8 fried squash recipes

Spaghetti squash stir-fry with mushrooms, zucchini, garlic, red pepper flakes, and sherry. A veggie-packed, low-fat stir-fry that turns squash strands into noodle-like gold.

Mesa squash fry with sunflower seeds: roasted Anaheim chile, garlic, fresh corn kernels, julienned zucchini, red bell pepper, and a toasty seed finish. A Southwestern three-sisters-style vegetable side.

Roasted acorn squash halves filled with honey-glazed figs, toasted almonds, and warm spices. Elegant fall side dish with cinnamon and nutmeg ready in an hour.

A rich beef and pork lasagna with a slow-braised ragu, a roasted butternut squash layer, and a quick creme fraiche white sauce instead of bechamel. A layered, deeply savory take on the classic.

Old-fashioned cake doughnuts made with cooked winter squash, cinnamon, and nutmeg, fried golden brown. These tender, spiced doughnuts taste like autumn and make about 2 1/2 dozen from a single batch.

Quick summer vegetable stir fry with zucchini, yellow squash, red pepper, and fresh tomatoes tossed in herbs and Parmesan. Ready in 25 minutes, this garden-fresh side dish bursts with seasonal flavor.

Chicken artichoke pizza loaded with marinated artichoke hearts, zucchini, mushrooms, olives, and Roma tomatoes on a Boboli crust with Monterey Jack and Parmesan cheese.

Ricotta-stuffed zucchini flowers filled with creamy ricotta, Asiago, chopped almonds, basil and parsley. Delicate squash blossoms baked until warm, elegant enough for company, easy enough for a summer Tuesday.