Curried Beef Stuffed Acorn Sqyash Recipes

BEEF-STUFFED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Invert squash in an 11 x 7-in. baking dish. Add water and cover with foil. Bake until tender, 50-60 minutes. , Meanwhile, cook beef, onion and celery over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in the flour, salt and sage until blended. Add milk. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. Stir in rice. , Transfer squash to a baking sheet. Fill cavity with meat mixture. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Remove from oven; sprinkle with cheese and bake 3-5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

CURRY BEEF IN AN ACORN SQUASH BOWL

Steps:

• Cut squash in half. Scoop out seeds and stringy pulp. Place squash halves on cookie sheet, flesh-side down. Roast for 45-60 minutes at 425, until flesh is very soft. Actual cook time will depend on the squash's size. (I actually roast mine flesh-side up, because I prefer the top a little crusty.).
• Wait until squash only has about 15 minutes bake-time remaining, then saute ground beef with onion. Drain grease if necessary. Sprinkle with salt, curry powder and (optional) cumin, stir well.
• Mound beef mixture into the fully-baked squash bowls and serve. YOU'RE DONE!
• VARIATIONS & IDEAS.
• Add mild red Anaheim chiles (roasted, de-skinned, de-seeded and chopped), to the ground beef & onions.
• Sprinkle grated cheese on top just before serving, broil for about 2 minutes.
• Reserve the seeds, rinse them and place in a small baking dish. Roast for about 15 minutes (in oven along with the squash halves). Toss with 1 tsp oil or butter and a pinch of salt, roast another 2 minutes. Scatter around the squash plate when serving. Or just snack on them!
• Next time, I'm going to try baking the acorn squash whole first, then halving. I think I'll have to bake it just a little more after halving, un-stuffed and flesh side up, because I like a little bit of crustiness on the surface.

ACORN SQUASH STUFFED WITH CURRIED MEAT

Steps:

• Cut acorn squash in half from stem to tip and scrape out seeds; set aside.
• In a heavy, non-reactive (such as enameled) skillet, melt the butter over medium heat.
• Sauté onion for 2-3 minutes.
• Quick trick: Use one of those handy green peeling/coring/slicing units that attach to the counter with suction.
• You can find these at most stores for around$20—if you don’t have one, I recommend getting one.
• They work really well, and save lots of time!
• Core and slice the apple with the peeling arm wedged out of action.
• Slice the spiral to form small, uniform dice.
• Add the apple, garlic and curry powder to the skillet.
• Sauté, stirring, for about 3 more minutes, or until apple is beginning to soften and curry has become quite fragrant.
• Add lamb and mix thoroughly, breaking up chunks.
• Brown lamb and stir in cumin, cayenne and salt.
• Add cream; allow to boil and reduce until thick.
• Pack as much of the lamb mixture as possible into the hollowed out squash halves.
• Place the squash in a baking dish just large enough to hold them upright.
• Pour 1 inch of boiling water in the dish and cover tightly.
• If baking in the oven, use foil.
• If microwaving, use microwave-safe plastic wrap, ventilated with 2 slits.
• Bake in preheated 400 F degree oven for 1 hour, or at 70% power in microwave for about 25 minutes, until the flesh of the squash is tender when pierced with a fork.

CURRIED STUFFED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Wrap each squash half with plastic wrap.
• Place wrapped squash, cut side down, in microwave; cook on high until squash is tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Leave squash wrapped while preparing filling.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir red bell pepper, radish, leek, celery, jalapeno pepper, and garlic in the hot oil until softened, about 10 minutes. Add vegetable stock and rice; stir to combine. Cover and simmer until broth is absorbed and rice is tender, about 45 minutes.
• Sprinkle greens into rice mixture; cover and simmer until greens are wilted, about 5 minutes. Add curry powder, curry paste, and walnuts to rice mixture; stir to combine.
• Unwrap squash and set halves, cut sides up, into 4 soup bowls. Spoon about 2 tablespoons feta cheese into each squash half. Add a large scoop of rice mixture atop feta layer. Top rice mixture layer with any leftover feta.