On Monday night, I made the most delicious fall treat: stuffed acorn squash.
I make this dish a few times a year – due to the seasonal availability of squash – and I enjoy it every time. It’s always a fun process, figuring out what would go well with the squash. This faux stuffing was a nice complement to the sweetness of the squash and even better once I added some spice. The recipe follows.
Ingredients
- Acorn squash, split in half
- 1 cup quinoa or couscous
- 1/2 red onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup pecans
- 1 tsb. cumin
- salt, pepper to taste
- olive oil
- hot sauce (optional – gives it a nice kick)
Directions
1. Split acorn squash in half. Remove seeds. Bake for 50 minutes at 400 degrees, face down. Be sure to add 1/4 inch water to the bottom of your pan so it doesn’t dry out.
2. Make your grain according to the directions. In a large pan, sauté the onions in olive oil until softened. Then, add the garlic and sauté another 1-2 minutes.
3. Add the quinoa, cranberries, pecans, cumin, salt, pepper, and stir.
4. Once the squash is tender, scoop one cup of stuffing into the center of the squash. Enjoy!