Dinner In A Squash Shell Recipes

SPAGHETTI SQUASH CASSEROLE IN THE SHELL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Place squash in baking pan; pour in enough boiling water to come 1/2-inch up the sides of dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until squash is tender, 40 to 45 minutes. Remove from oven; cool until easily handled, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Reduce oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Scoop out squash; separate strands with a fork. Reserve shells.
• Cook beef, onion, and bell pepper in a skillet over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink, about 5 minutes; drain. Stir in garlic, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper; cook and stir until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook until warmed through, about 2 minutes. Stir in squash; cook until liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes.
• Fill squash shells with squash mixture using a slotted spoon; place in a shallow baking pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until flavors combine, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with Cheddar cheese; bake until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH-STUFFED SHELLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Add the squash, shallot and garlic to a baking sheet. Drizzle with the olive oil and toss to combine. Sprinkle with the thyme, sage, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper and toss again. Roast until the squash is tender and light golden, about 30 minutes. Let cool.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil; add salt. Add the pasta shells and cook until al dente according to the package directions. Drain and let cool.
• Squeeze the roasted garlic into a small food processor or blender, add the squash, shallot and vegetable broth and puree until smooth.
• Mix together the spinach, cream cheese, ricotta, red pepper flakes, 2/3 cup of the Parmesan and 1 tablespoon salt in a large bowl. Stuff about 2 tablespoons of the spinach mixture into each shell; set aside.
• Add the pureed squash mixture, heavy cream and butter to a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, whisking frequently, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the nutmeg, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and the remaining 1 1/3 cups Parmesan.
• Spread the cheese sauce into the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Arrange the stuffed shells in the baking dish seam-side up, shingling them so they all fit (you should have 5 shells along the short side and 6 shells along the long side). Top with the mozzarella. Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbling, 15 to 20 minutes. Top with more Parmesan and sage before serving.

ROASTED SQUASH SHELLS AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Set an oven rack in the middle position. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Spread the squash and onion on the sheet pan and drizzle with the olive oil. Season with 1 1/4 teaspoons of salt, a couple turns of black pepper, paprika, dried mustard and nutmeg and toss to coat. Roast until the squash is tender and the edges are starting to brown, begin checking at 20 minutes.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until tender but slightly toothsome, 6 to 7 minutes. Reserve 1 1/2 cups of pasta water and set aside. Drain pasta and return the pot to the stove.
• Combine the squash, vegetable broth, and half of the pasta water in a high powered blender until super smooth. Transfer to the pot and slowly bring up to a simmer. Add the cheese, whisking over low to medium heat until completely melted, 1 to 2 minutes. Thin out with additional pasta water if it is too thick. Add the pasta and toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with lots of Sriracha on top.

DINNER IN A SQUASH SHELL

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees.
• Bake halved and seeded acorn squash face down on a baking sheet for 30 minutes.
• While squash is cooking mix filling and put in refrigerator until squash is ready.
• Mix basting ingredients and set aside.
• When squash done cooking, fill with meat mixture, mounding extra on top.
• Cover with basting sauce.
• There should be plenty leftover.
• Return to oven for 40 minutes, basting with extra sauce every 10 minutes.
• I usually have extra filling which I cook seperately and extra sauce which I heat in a small pan for safety sake and serve on the side.