Cheesy Chorizo And Orzo Stuffed Acorn Squash Food

TOFU-STUFFED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Put the squash in a large microwave-safe bowl. Add 1 tablespoon dill, a splash of water, and salt and pepper to taste. Cover with plastic wrap, pierce the plastic and microwave until tender, 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic; cook, stirring, until soft, 3 minutes. Stir in the tofu and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook, undisturbed, 2 minutes, then cook, stirring, until browned, 3 more minutes.
• Push the tofu and onion to one side of the pan; add half of the tomatoes to the other side and season with salt. Cook, stirring the tomatoes, 3 minutes, then stir into the tofu and onion mixture. Add half of the spinach and a splash of water and stir until the spinach wilts. Stir in 1 tablespoon parmesan and 1 teaspoon lemon juice.
• Toss the pitas, the remaining spinach, tomatoes, 3 tablespoons dill, 1 tablespoon parmesan, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 teaspoons lemon juice, and salt to taste in a bowl. Spoon the tofu mixture into the squash. Serve with the salad.

CHEESY RICE-STUFFED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Position a rack in the upper third of the oven; preheat to 425 degrees F. Put the squash, cut-side up, in a large microwave-safe dish with 1 tablespoon water; dot with 1 tablespoon butter and season with salt and pepper. Cover with plastic wrap and pierce with a knife to vent. Microwave until tender, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion; cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute. Add the flour and cook, stirring, 3 minutes. Whisk in the milk until smooth, then bring to a simmer and cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. Add the cheese, stirring to melt. Add the nutmeg, 3/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Stir in the rice and spinach.
• Transfer the squash to a rimmed baking sheet and fill with the rice mixture. Sprinkle with more cheese and bake until lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Top with parsley.

CHEESY CHORIZO AND ORZO-STUFFED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• 1) Preheat the oven to 400 F 2) place halved squash cut-side down in a baking dish and add 3/4 c. water. Cover tightly with foil and bake until fork-tender( about 35 min.) 3) Bring the chicken broth to a boil in a med pot and add the orzo. Cover and reduce to a simmer for about 15-20 min, the pasta should be al dente, and will have absorbed some of the broth) 4) Cook up the chorizo in a pan until done.(Crumble it as it cooks) 5) When the pasta is done add the milk and bring to a simmer. Once hot, stir in the cheeses, reserving some to sprinkle on top. 6) Stir the cooked chorizo into the orzo 7) When the squash is tender, remove form the oven and drain the remaining water. Turn the squash so the cut side is facing up. Drizzle with a little olive oil and season with salt and pepper. 8) Divide the orzo mixture between the 4 squash halves and sprinkle each with the reserved cheese. 9)Bake uncovered for about 25 minutes or until cheese on top is slightly brown

WILD RICE, CHERRIES, APRICOTS AND CHEESY STUFFED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Squash -- Drizzle the olive oil the inside of the squash and sprinkle with sald and pepper. Place flesh side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment or even foil in a 400 degree oven, middle shelf for about 30-40 minutes depending on the size of the squash. Just poke with a knife and it should be tender but no falling apart. Remove from the oven so you can add the stuffing.
• Rice -- As the squash is baking, cook the rice according to the package directions. But as the rice cooks, add if your garlic and shallots, so it will cook right along with the rice. TIP: I always cook my rice in broth rather than water, so if you want to add some more flavor, rather than water, use chicken or vegetable broth.
• Finishing -- Once the rice is done, remove from the heat and stir in the butter, scallions, cherries, apricots and nuts. Then stuff the squash! I fill each squash half way, and then add a little cheese, add the rest of the rice and top with the remainder of the cheese.
• Bake -- 400 degrees for about 15 minutes. This will reheat the squash, rice, and melt the cheese.
• Serve -- ENJOY! 1 squash half per person is healthy and filling. As I mentioned, roast chicken is great with this or go lighter with a salad.

GREEK-STYLE STUFFED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Place squash halves, cut side up, on a large baking sheet; roast until they can just be pierced with a fork, about 40 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool. Meanwhile, place lentils in a large saucepan; add water to cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook, covered, until tender, 20-25 minutes. Drain. Remove and set aside. In the same saucepan, bring chicken broth to a boil. Add orzo; cook according to package directions for al dente. Drain, reserving broth., In a large skillet, cook sausage, crumbling meat, until no longer pink, 6-8 minutes; drain. Add lentils and orzo to skillet; remove from heat. Add 1/2 cup feta cheese and Greek seasoning; mix well., Pour reserved chicken broth back into saucepan. Over medium heat, whisk in flour until thickened, then pour into sausage mixture., When cool enough to handle, quarter squash and return to baking sheet. Top with sausage mixture. Bake until squash are tender, about 30 minutes. Before serving, sprinkle with french-fried onions and, if desired, additional feta.

CHORIZO-STUFFED SPAGHETTI SQUASH

Steps:

• Combine turkey, salt, garlic powder, chili powder, smoked and sweet paprika, cumin, coriander, oregano, chipotle pepper, cinnamon, cloves, and apple cider vinegar in a mixing bowl. Mix well. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour for flavors to blend.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Cut squash in half lengthwise, scoop out seeds and brush cut sides with olive oil. Place squash cut-side down on prepared baking sheet.
• Roast in preheated oven until squash is soft, 40 to 45 minutes. Set aside and keep warm.
• Heat a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add chilled chorizo mixture. Cook and stir, breaking up lumps, until cooked through and browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Add onion and cook for an additional 5 minutes, or until onion becomes translucent, stirring constantly. Add garlic and cook an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in chili powder, salt, and cumin.
• Stir in beans, corn, diced green chilies, and tomatoes; cover and simmer 4 to 5 minutes.
• Fluff spaghetti squash strands with a fork, keeping them in the shells.
• Increase oven temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Divide sauce among 4 squash halves. Top each half with 1/4 cup of cheese. Return to baking sheet and bake until cheese is melted 5 to 6 minutes. Garnish with fresh cilantro.

CHORIZO, ORZO & SWEETCORN SUMMER STEW

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a deep frying pan and fry the white parts of the spring onions, the peppers and chorizo for 8 mins, until the peppers are soft and the chorizo is just golden.
• Stir in the garlic, orzo, paprika, sweetcorn and tomato, and fry for 2-3 mins more. Pour in the stock. Bring to a simmer and cook for 8-10 mins, stirring often, until the orzo is tender. Stir in the parsley, the green parts of the spring onions, and the lemon juice and zest.

ORZO AND CHEESE BAKED IN ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400° F. Cut off thin slice from rounded side of each squash half. Arrange squash, open side down, in roasting pan. Add 3/4 cup water to pan. Cover tightly with foil. Bake until squash is tender about 35 minutes. Remove from oven; discard water. Turn squash open side up. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Maintain oven temperature.
• Meanwhile, cook orzo in pot of boiling salted water until almost tender, about 5 minutes. Drain. Pour milk and broth into same pot; bring to boil. Add orzo; boil until liquid thickens and orzo is tender, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in cheddar and 1 tablespoon Parmesan. Season with hot pepper sauce, salt and pepper.
• Divide orzo mixture among squash halves. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon Parmesan. Bake until tops begin to brown, about 25 minutes.

ACORN SQUASH STUFFED WITH CHEESY MUSHROOM RICE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Brush cut sides of squash with 1 tablespoon olive oil and place, skin-side up, on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until tender and lightly browned, about 40 minutes.
• While squash bakes, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; stir in mushrooms, onion, garlic, and thyme. Cook and stir until soft, about 5 minutes. Add rice; cook and stir until rice is coated, about 1 minute. Pour in chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender and liquid has been absorbed, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in Cheddar cheese.
• Remove squash from the oven, flip over, and season with salt and pepper. Fill squash with rice mixture, sprinkle with panko, and drizzle with remaining olive oil.
• Return to the oven and bake until heated through, about 10 minutes. Turn on the broiler and broil until panko is brown and crispy, 2 to 3 minutes.

CHEESY STUFFED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Cut squash in half and remove the seeds.
• Rub the cut flesh with salt and place flesh side down in a baking dish and bake for about 35 minutes.
• While the squash is baking, sauté onion in butter until clear and add chopped broccoli florets, mushrooms and celery.
• Sauté about 4 minutes.
• Stir in walnuts and fresh basil, then sprinkle with brown sugar and soy sauce, adjust seasoning to taste. Toss to mix well.
• Check baking squash with a fork to see if it glides through the flesh.
• Stuff with vegetable mixture, top with equal amounts of grated cheese and return to oven for about 5 minutes.
• NOTES : Baked acorn squash halves stuffed with sautéed broccoli, cheese and walnuts.