Comprehensively Stuffed Squash Recipes

SAVORY GRAIN-STUFFED SQUASH

Steps:

• Cut the bottom off each squash so that it will sit straight. Slice off the top, clean the seeds from the squash and prick the inside evenly with a fork. Place the squash in a shallow baking dish and add water to come halfway up the sides of the squash.
• Place the sesame oil in a skillet over medium heat and warm. Add the bulgur wheat and cook, stirring frequently, until toasted, about 4 minutes. Add 1 cup of the water and stir. Add the ginger, cinnamon, pepper and salt and stir. Reduce heat and add remaining water by the quarter cup until the grain is soft, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the raisins and pine nuts.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Divide the grain mixture evenly among the squashes and cover the baking dish tightly with foil. Bake one hour, until the squashes are soft.

WHOLE-ROASTED STUFFED DELICATA SQUASH

Steps:

• Cut 1 inch off the top and bottom of each squash. Use a melon baller or small spoon to scrape out the seeds. Sprinkle the inside of the squash with salt and pepper, then stand them upright on an oiled baking sheet.
• Heat oven to 425 degrees. In a large saucepan set over medium-high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter. When it foams, add onions to pan and sauté, stirring frequently, until they begin to soften and turn translucent, approximately 6 to 8 minutes. Add kale to pan and continue to cook, tossing, until kale begins to wilt, about 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat and put vegetables into a large bowl.
• Meanwhile, place bread cubes on a sheet pan and toast in the oven until they begin to crisp on the outside, approximately 7 to 9 minutes. Add bread cubes to the bowl with the vegetables, and then add blue cheese and cranberries. Stir to combine.
• Put pecans in a dry sauté pan set over medium heat and toast the nuts until they begin to darken and turn fragrant, approximately 4 to 6 minutes. Stir in maple syrup and allow to cook for 1 minute, then scrape into the bowl with the rest of the stuffing and toss to combine. Taste and season the mixture with salt and pepper.
• Lower oven temperature to 400 degrees. Divide the stuffing between the squash. Cut the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter into 6 pieces, and top each squash with a dot of butter. Roast squash until the flesh has softened and you can easily pierce it with a fork, approximately 45 minutes. If the squash is browning too quickly, lay a sheet of aluminum foil over the top to prevent burning.
• Sprinkle parsley over the squash. Serve 1 whole squash per person as a main course, or 1/2 squash or less as a side dish.

CHEF JOHN'S STUFFED SUMMER SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly coat it with 1 teaspoon olive oil.
• Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a nonstick pan over medium heat. Stir in sausage and red bell pepper. Cook, stirring to break up sausage into small pieces, until sausage is browned and bell pepper is soft and sweet, 7 to 8 minutes. Drain off any fat.
• Stir goat cheese and sausage mixture in a bowl until well combined. Set aside.
• Hollow out a 3/4-inch deep well in the center of each squash half. Place each piece on the prepared baking sheet, cut-side up. Season with salt and black pepper; fill each with 1 to 2 tablespoons cheese and sausage mixture. Top each squash with breadcrumbs and lightly drizzle with remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until filling is golden and squash is tender, about 30 minutes.

COMPREHENSIVELY STUFFED SQUASH -- A MOOSEWOOD RECIPE

Steps:

• For four servings of stuffed squash, split 2 decent sized acorn or butternut squash lengthwise down the middle. Remove the seeds and bake, face down, on an oiled tray for 30 minutes at 350, or until tender enough to eat.
• Saute onion, garlic, celery, nuts and seeds, lightly salted, in butter. Cook over low heat until onions are clear, nuts are browned, celery is tender (in other words, cook until everything is perfect.).
• Add remaining ingredients (except cheese and egg). Cook, stirring over low heat, 5-8 minutes - until everything is aquainted. Remove from heat and mix in egg and cheese. Pack stuffing into squash cavities.
• Bake, covered, 25 minutes.