Description
A hearty and wholesome recipe featuring roasted acorn squash halves filled with a savory mixture of lean ground turkey, dried cranberries, herbs, and breadcrumbs or quinoa. This dish combines sweet and savory flavors with a perfect balance of textures, making it an ideal main course for a comforting meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Acorn Squash
- 2 medium acorn squashes
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Turkey Filling
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs or cooked quinoa
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for roasting the acorn squash halves evenly.
- Prepare Squash: Cut each acorn squash in half lengthwise and carefully scoop out the seeds to create hollow halves ready for filling.
- Season Squash: Brush the inside of each squash half with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper to enhance flavor and aid roasting.
- Initial Bake: Place the squash halves cut-side down on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes until they start to soften.
- Sauté Aromatics: While the squash is baking, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add Garlic: Stir in minced garlic and cook for an additional minute to release its fragrance.
- Cook Turkey: Add ground turkey to the skillet, breaking it up as it cooks to ensure even browning and thorough cooking.
- Season Meat: Once the turkey is nearly cooked, add dried thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper to infuse herbal flavors into the meat.
- Add Cranberries and Fillers: Stir in dried cranberries and breadcrumbs or cooked quinoa, cooking for 2-3 minutes more to blend flavors and moisten the mixture.
- Flip Squash: Remove squash halves from the oven and carefully flip them cut-side up for stuffing.
- Fill Squash: Divide the turkey mixture evenly among the four squash halves, filling each cavity generously.
- Add Cheese: If desired, sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the top of each stuffed squash half for a savory, melty topping.
- Final Bake: Return the stuffed squash to the oven and bake for another 15-20 minutes, until the squash is tender and the topping is golden brown.
- Serve: Remove from oven and serve hot for a comforting and nutritious meal.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey with ground chicken or lean pork if preferred.
- For a gluten-free option, use cooked quinoa instead of breadcrumbs.
- Leftover stuffing can be used as a filling for wraps or salads.
- To add more moisture, a splash of chicken broth can be added to the turkey mixture while cooking.
- Make sure not to overfill the squash to avoid spilling during baking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
