Stuffed Butternut Squash

By Casey ElsassPublished: Jul 11, 2022

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PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Sure, casual vegetarian dinners are delicious and come in a wide variety of formats. From jerk tofu grain bowls to ricotta- and potato-topped white pizza, or decadent Southern baked mac & cheese, these days it's not a stretch to keep meat off your plate. But a hearty fork-and-knife veggie meal (that's actually healthy, too) isn't that easy to come by. Enter this stuffed butternut squash, a vegetarian main that's as delicious as it is beautiful.

You'll start by slathering the butternut squash halves with a brown sugar-butter mixture, which enhances the naturally sweet qualities of the roasted squash. After baking until perfectly tender, you'll top the squash with a hearty filling of quinoa, kale, and chickpeas. Flecked with dried cranberries and pumpkin seeds, the savory pilaf has the perfect balance of texture, flavor, and pops of color. It's sweet, savory, protein-packed, and filling—what more could you need?

This stuffed squash is not only great for weeknight veggie dinners, it's ideal for serving as the turkey replacement at a vegetarian Thanksgiving. For an extra cute version of this dish, seek out an equal weight of miniature honeynut squashes. The baking time will be shorter, so begin with just 15 minutes of baking, and then checking the squash after 15 more minutes after the sugar-butter mixture is on.

Made this? Let us know how it went in the comments below.

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Yields:: 2 - 4 serving(s)
Prep Time:: 20 mins
Total Time:: 1 hr 30 mins

Ingredients

1
(2-lb.) butternut squash, halved and seeded
Kosher salt
2 tbsp.
butter, softened
1 tbsp.
brown sugar
1 c.
vegetable broth
1/2 c.
quinoa, rinsed until water runs clear
3 c.
roughly chopped kale, from 1 bunch
1
(15.5-oz.) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/2 c.
dried cranberries
1/4 c.
toasted pumpkin seeds

Directions

1. Step 1Preheat oven to 400°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
2. Step 2Place squash halves, cut side down, on prepared baking sheet. Transfer to oven and bake for about 30 minutes, until skin is starting to blister in some areas.
3. Step 3Flip squash cut-side up and season thoroughly with salt. In a small bowl, mash together butter and brown sugar, then use a spoon to spread butter paste all over squash. Return to oven and bake for about 30 minutes more, until squash is caramelized and tender.
4. Step 4Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine broth, quinoa, and pinch of salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, then cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, until liquid is absorbed and quinoa is fluffy. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
5. Step 5Add kale to a large skillet with 2 tablespoons of water and a big pinch of salt. Set over medium heat and cook, stirring frequently, until kale is wilted, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in chickpeas, cranberries, pumpkin seeds, and cooked quinoa. Set aside to cool.
6. Step 6Remove baked squash from oven. Spoon pooled sugar syrup over squash. Fill cavity with 1 cup of quinoa mixture, then pile another 1 cup on rest of squash. Repeat with remaining squash and filling.
7. Step 7Return to oven for about 10 minutes, until filling is warmed through. Serve immediately.