Discover the ultimate fall dish with our Stuffed Acorn Squash recipe, featuring baked acorn squash halves filled with a delectable mix of quinoa, creamy goat cheese, tangy cranberries, and crunchy pecans. Perfect for a cozy dinner or a festive side, this dish is garnished with fresh thyme to elevate your culinary experience. Pin this for an easy and impressive holiday meal!
Ingredients
- 2 acorn squash halved and seeds removed
- 1 cup quinoa
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup cranberries dried
- 1/2 cup pecans chopped
- 4 oz goat cheese crumbled
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme plus extra for garnish
- Optional: drizzle of honey or maple syrup for sweetness
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Prepare Squash for Baking: Cut the acorn squash in half from stem to end and scoop out the seeds.
- Drizzle the inside of each squash half with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.
- Place the squash halves, cut-side down, on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake the Squash: Bake in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes, or until the flesh is tender when pierced with a fork.
- Cook the Quinoa: While the squash is baking, rinse the quinoa under cold water.
- In a medium saucepan, bring the vegetable broth to a boil.
- Add the quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, or until all the liquid is absorbed.
- Remove from heat and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Then fluff with a fork.
- Prepare the Filling: In a large bowl, mix the cooked quinoa, cranberries, pecans, crumbled goat cheese, and fresh thyme leaves.
- Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
- Stuff the Squash: Once the squash is tender, remove from the oven and flip them over so they’re cut-side up.
- Spoon the quinoa mixture into the cavities of the acorn squash.
- Bake Stuffed Squash: Return the stuffed squash to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the filling is heated through and slightly golden on top.
- Final Touches and Serving: Garnish with additional thyme sprigs and, if desired, a drizzle of honey or maple syrup for a touch of sweetness.
- Serve warm as a delightful, wholesome main dish.
Notes
This stuffed acorn squash dish combines the nuttiness of quinoa with the creaminess of goat cheese and the sweet tang of cranberries, encapsulating a perfect balance of flavors and textures for a cozy meal.
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