Nut And Fruit Filled Squash Food

FRUIT & NUT STUFFED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Cut squash in half and scoop out seeds and strings.
• Lightly grease baking sheet. Place squash on sheet, cut side down and back at 350 for 40 - 50 minutes, until soft but not mushy. Remove from heat and place, cut site up, on sheet.
• Saute onion, celery and garlic in olive oil until translucent.
• Add all other filling ingredients and mix until blended. Use a large spoon to fill squash halves.
• Cover squash with aluminum foil and bake at 375 for 20 - 30 minutes until all ingredients are well cooked.

STUFFED BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH QUINOA AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 190 C. Cut the butternut squash in half lengthways, scoop out the seeds, season and drizzle the halves with a little oil (about 1-1.5 tbsp).
• Roast for about 55-65 minutes until golden brown. It is ready when it starts caramelizing around the edges and is tender (check with a fork).Start making the filling whilst the butternut squash is roasting. That way when the squash comes out of the oven you'll be able to stuff it straight away.
• Cook the quinoa according to packet instructions. In the meantime fry the mushrooms with 2 tablespoons of oil over a high heat for 4-5 minutes until the water has been absorbed (the mushrooms release lots of moisture). Season to taste and set aside until the butternut squash is cooked.
• Remove the butternut squash from the oven (keep the oven on). Scoop out some of the pulp from the middle (not too much, just to create more space for the filling) and chop roughly. Combine the pulp with the cooked quinoa, mushrooms, dried cranberries, onion granules and parmesan. Season generously.
• You are now ready to stuff the squash. Scatter the pine nuts, drizzle over the melted butter and place on the top oven shelf for about 10-12 minutes (200 C). Remove from the oven, set aside for 5 minutes then serve.

VEGAN QUINOA-CRANBERRY STUFFED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven; preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Cut each squash in half lengthwise and scoop out and discard the seeds. Arrange the halves in a large baking dish, flesh-side up.
• Whisk together the vinegar, 2 tablespoons of the oil and the maple syrup in a cup. Brush the flesh side of the squash halves with some of the maple mixture and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Put the squash flesh-side down in the baking dish, then brush the skin side with maple mixture and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Roast until the squash is fork-tender, 50 to 60 minutes. Poke the inside of the squash halves with a fork and brush generously with more of the maple mixture.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden brown, about 6 minutes. Add the quinoa, curry powder, cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon salt and stir until the spices are toasted, about 1 minute. Add 2 cups water and bring to a simmer. Lower the heat, cover the pan and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the quinoa is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, 20 to 24 minutes. Remove from the heat and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Uncover and stir in the cranberries, remaining maple mixture, half of the parsley and half of the pistachios.
• Stuff the squash halves with the quinoa and sprinkle with the remaining parsley and pistachios. Serve warm or at room temperature.

STUFFED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Cook the pearl barley following pack instructions, crumbling the stock cube into the boiling water for extra flavour. Drain and set aside to cool.
• Meanwhile, toast the pine nuts and almonds in a dry pan until nutty brown. Tip into a bowl and set aside. Use the same pan to toast the fennel and coriander seeds for a couple of mins, until aromatic. Grind the spices using a pestle and mortar.
• Cut the squash in half lengthways through the centre. Scoop out and discard the seeds and any fibrous bits. Keep scraping to carve out a channel down the centre of both squash halves for stuffing, you may need to score the flesh with a knife first if your squash is very firm. The squash shell should be about 1.5cm thick all over when you've finished. Roughly chop any squash you remove and set aside. Score the flesh of the 2 squash halves in a criss-cross pattern, trying not to pierce the skin, rub with 1 tbsp oil and season well.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Heat the remaining 2 tbsp oil in a pan and cook the onion, chopped squash and leek for 8-10 mins until soft. Stir in the garlic and cook for another min. Add the pearl barley, nuts, spices, feta, herbs, dried fruit and lemon zest. Season well and cook for a min or 2 more, then pack the filling into the cavities in the 2 squash halves, keep any leftover stuffing. Tie the halves back together with kitchen string, as you would a joint of meat. The squash will shrink a little as it cooks, so make sure you make the knots nice and tight. Rub the outside with a little more oil and season well. Alternatively, wrap well in foil.
• Place in a roasting tin lined with some foil or parchment and cook for 1 hr. Check if the squash is cooked by inserting a knife, it should go in with little resistance and the flesh should feel soft. Scatter any remaining stuffing around the squashetta and return to the oven for another 5 mins to warm through. Mix the tahini, lemon juice, honey and a drizzle of water to make a dressing. Carve the squash into slices and serve drizzled with the tahini sauce and scattered with parsley.

STUFFED BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH QUINOA

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Halve the butternut squash, scoop out the seeds and score the flesh with a sharp knife.
• Arrange the two halves on a baking tray, drizzle with a little olive oil, season with freshly ground black pepper and sea salt, sprinkle with dried oregano and cook for 40 minutes. Take out the oven, add the chopped peppers to the tray alongside the squash and cook for a further 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile mix the rest of the ingredients. Take the tray out of the oven and carefully transfer the peppers to the stuffing mix. Stir together and spoon the filling onto the butternut squash. Return to the oven for 10 mins. Serve.

DELICATA SQUASH STUFFED WITH DRIED FRUIT AND NUTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place squash cut side down on a baking pan with sides. Add 1/2 inch water to pan.
• Bake for 30 minutes or until squash is slightly soft. Remove squash from oven. Pour water off pan and carefully turn over so cut side is up.
• Combine all ingredients for stuffing mixture.
• Place mixture into the 4 squash cavities. Return to oven, continue baking for 30 minutes or until squash is soft and topping is browned.
• Serve immediately.