Stuffed Acorn Squash
Stuffed Acorn Squash is a visually stunning and flavorful dish that marries simplicity with elegance. Halved acorn squashes are filled with a savory mixture of sausage, rice, and herbs, baked to perfection. In just over an hour, you'll have a comforting fall main course, each serving around 500 calories. This easy and customizable recipe is a celebration of making the ordinary extraordinary.
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
- Chef's knife
- Cutting board
- Medium-sized mixing bowl
- Spoon
- Aluminum foil
Ingredients
- 2 acorn squashes halved and seeds removed
- 1 lb (450g) ground sausage (pork or turkey)
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dried sage
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- Olive oil for drizzling
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Prepare the Squash: Cut the acorn squashes in half and scoop out the seeds. Place them on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.
- Cook the Sausage: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground sausage until browned and cooked through. Break it into crumbles with a spoon as it cooks.
- Sauté Onions and Garlic: In the same skillet, sauté the chopped onions and minced garlic until they are soft and translucent.
- Combine Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine the cooked sausage, sautéed onions, garlic, cooked rice, dried sage, dried thyme, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
- Stuff the Squash: Spoon the sausage and rice mixture into each acorn squash half, creating a generous mound. Drizzle each stuffed squash with olive oil.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes or until the squash is fork-tender and the filling is golden brown.
- Cheese Topping: In the last 10 minutes of baking, sprinkle each stuffed squash with Parmesan cheese and return to the oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Rest and Serve: Allow the stuffed acorn squash to rest for about 5 minutes before serving. The flavors will meld, and the squash will be easier to handle.
Notes
- Experiment with different types of sausage for varied flavors.
- Feel free to add chopped nuts or dried fruits to the stuffing for extra texture and sweetness.
- This recipe is easily customizable; try incorporating your favorite herbs or spices.