Cooking with Collins - Stuffed Acorn Squash
What’s up, Fam!
I hope this recipe finds you and your family doing well! Today, I want to share a recipe with you, utilizing one of the most overlooked crops - the acorn squash. Some of you may be thinking, “I walk by this thing all the time in the grocery store, but I just don’t know what to do with it.” The acorn squash, also called a pepper squash, is a winter crop, but it belongs to the same species as all summer squashes. In-fact, did you know it’s actually classified as a fruit! Like most fruits & vegetables, acorn squash is loaded with essential nutrients, especially fiber & vitamin C. Don’t be intimidated by its outside appearance, with dark green long ridges. It has a sweet orange flesh on the inside with many food applications. For this recipe, we’re going to stuff it! Also, see “chefs tips” below for more cooking ideas with this amazing fruit!
Stuffed Acorn Squash
Prep Time: 20 Min | Cook Time: 1 Hr | Servings: 4
Ingredients
1 # Italian Pork Sausage
Olive Oil
2 Organic Acorn Squash
2 TB Butter
2 TB Honey
1 C Organic Red Onion, Diced
1 Organic Apple, Diced
4 Bulbs Organic Garlic, Minced
½ C Dried Cranberries
5 oz Fresh Organic Spinach
1 TB Fresh Sage, Chopped
1 TB Fresh Thyme, Chopped
1 TB Fresh Rosemary, Chopped
½ C Organic Quinoa, Cooked
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400º. Cut the acorn squash in half lengthwise, and use a spoon to remove the seeds. Place half a TB of butter in each acorn squash half, then half a TB of honey into each squash half. Place on a baking sheet and roast in the oven for 45-60 min. Cooking time varies based on the size of squash. When the squash is soft and golden-brown, it's ready.
While the acorn squash is cooking, let's make the filling. Cook quinoa according to the package instructions. Once cooked, set aside.
On the stove, in a saute pan over medium heat, add olive oil and cook the pork sausage. Brown and crumble, about 4-6 minutes.
One the sausage is cooked, lower the heat to medium/low, and remove sausage, keeping as much grease in the pan as possible, set sausage aside.
Add in the red onion, apple, and garlic, and saute for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
Add in the herbs, dried cranberries, and quinoa, and saute for another 3-4 minutes.
Finally add the sausage back into the pan, heating thoroughly.
When squash is done, remove from the oven. Fill each squash with as much filling as you like. Serve immediately, and enjoy!
Chef Tips
Like stated before, this nutritious AND delicious fruit has many food applications. You can roast it, boil and mash it, make soups, use it in salads, or one of my favorites - stuff it. It's even great as a dessert! Roasting an acorn squash with butter and brown sugar makes the inside taste like caramel, and then filled with ice cream is so delicious! Its a dessert you don’t have to feel bad about. Have a great weekend!
“The secret ingredient I use to make good food, enjoy amazing fellowship, and build community is LOVE. Add it to all that you do!”
- Chef Collins
