This vegetarian Stuffed Acorn Squash is crammed with cinnamon-maple apples and a pecan-pumpkin seed brittle. It’s a beautiful meatless aspect for fall and winter and makes a festive addition to the vacation desk for Thanksgiving and Christmas!
Vegetarian stuffed acorn squash
I like including a brand new aspect dish to my Thanksgiving menu annually! Fall is such a beautiful season for contemporary autumn produce like acorn squash. We sometimes serve the classics—inexperienced beans, mashed potatoes, candy potatoes, and stuffing—however this vegetarian dish brings one thing a bit extra refined but nonetheless straightforward to make. It options cinnamon-maple apples and a scrumptious cinnamon pecan-pumpkin seed brittle. With easy elements, it creates a festive, flavorful aspect that superbly enhances conventional vacation dishes. Plus, it’s vegetarian and gluten-free, bringing a vibrant, seasonal contact to the vacation desk that matches completely alongside all the normal Thanksgiving sides! For extra vegetarian vacation inspiration, check out this meatless Thanksgiving menu.
Elements Checklist and Substitutions
- Acorn Squash – I used 2 medium acorn squash. You can even use a small edible pumpkin selection (corresponding to pie or honey) – simply keep away from carving pumpkins.
- Apples – Use 2 massive apples, peeled and cored. Select sweeter, firmer apples that maintain as much as cooking, like Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Envy. You can even use pears.
- Pecans – They work nice for the vacation recipe however be happy to substitute with different nuts like cashews, sliced almonds, walnuts, or pistachios.
- Pumpkin Seeds – These add crunch and a seasonal contact. Sunflower seeds are a fantastic different!
- Maple Syrup & Cinnamon – Used within the pecan and pumpkin seed brittle and to prepare dinner the apples. You’ll be able to substitute honey for maple syrup and add nutmeg together with the cinnamon.
- Butter – Used for cooking the apples.
- Olive Oil – Brushed on the acorn squash for roasting, although butter is an efficient substitute.
- Salt – For seasoning the acorn squash.
The way to make stuffed acorn squash
1) Roast the squash. You have to 2 medium acorn squashes. Fastidiously minimize every in half and scoop out the seeds, providing you with 4 halves. Roast in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for half-hour.
2) Make the pumpkin seed and pecan brittle. Toss the pecans, pumpkin seeds, cinnamon, and maple syrup on a big parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes till the combination is crunchy and set.
3) Cook dinner the apples. In a big skillet, sauté the peeled and cubed apples with butter, maple syrup, and cinnamon over medium warmth till softened.
4) Stuff the squash. Spoon the cooked apples into every of the 4 acorn squash halves, then crumble the brittle and sprinkle it on prime.
Variations and additions
- Add protein to the apple combination, corresponding to Italian sausage, turkey sausage, rooster sausage, bacon, or prosciutto.
- Add dried fruit corresponding to dried cranberries (Craisins), figs, dried cherries, blueberries, or dried apricots.
- Make it dairy-free by swapping butter with olive oil.
- Make it vegan by substituting butter with olive oil and utilizing honey rather than maple syrup.
Storage and reheating suggestions
- Refrigerate. Retailer leftover stuffed squash in an hermetic container or sealed freezer plastic bag within the fridge for as much as 4 days. If making ready upfront, maintain the brittle separate from the squash and add it simply earlier than serving.
- Freeze. Keep away from freezing, because the squash might develop into mushy and the nuts and seeds will lose their crunch and get soggy.
- Reheat within the oven. Reheat the stuffed squash on a parchment paper lined baking sheet in a preheated oven at 350°F for about half-hour, or till the filling is heated via.
- Reheat within the microwave. Reheat within the microwave in 30-second intervals till scorching. For a sooner possibility, take away the apple filling, microwave each the filling and squash individually, then restuff the squash earlier than serving.
Different stuffed acorn squash recipes to strive
- Sausage Stuffed Acorn Squash
- Floor Beef Stuffed Acorn Squash (Southwestern-style)
- Stuffed Acorn Squash with Spinach and Cheese
- Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash
Different Thanksgiving recipes you may like
- 50 Finest Thanksgiving Recipes (The Full Vacation Menu) – This recipe assortment options every little thing: Fall-inspired vacation appetizers, aspect dishes, salads, predominant programs, pasta recipes, desserts, and even breakfast.
- 60 Finest Thanksgiving Facet Dishes – These sides shall be a fantastic addition to your vacation menu!
- 30 Finest Thanksgiving Salads – Should you’re in search of festive, colourful, and contemporary Thanksgiving salads.
- 40 Finest Meatless Thanksgiving Recipes – This menu presents scrumptious meatless, vegetarian vacation predominant and aspect dishes which can be so satisfying, that you’ll neglect all concerning the turkey!
Stuffed Acorn Squash with Maple-Cinnamon Apples, Pecans, and Pumpkin Seeds
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Elements
Pumpkin seed and pecan brittle
- ½ cup pecans
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Apple combination
- 3 massive apples cored, peeled, and cubed
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1.5 teaspoons cinnamon
Directions
Roast the acorn squash
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Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
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Put together the acorn squash by trimming off the highest and backside of every squash to create a flat base. You should definitely maintain your fingers away from the knife to keep away from damage, and don’t minimize too deep into the bottom. Slice every squash in half, then scoop out the seeds and fibrous strands with a spoon.
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Place the squash halves cut-side up on a baking sheet. Drizzle the minimize sides with olive oil, rubbing it in to coat evenly. Season flippantly with salt. Flip the squash over so the minimize sides are dealing with down on the sheet.
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Roast within the preheated oven for half-hour.
Make the pumpkin seed and pecan brittle
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Toss the pecans, pumpkin seeds, cinnamon, and maple syrup in a medium bowl and unfold in a single layer on a big parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes till the combination is crunchy and set.
Cook dinner the apples
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In a big skillet, soften butter over medium warmth and prepare dinner the peeled, cubed apples till tender however not mushy, about 3-5 minutes. Stir within the maple syrup and cinnamon, mixing every little thing collectively. Add extra maple syrup or cinnamon, if desired.
Stuff the squash
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Spoon the cooked apples into every of the 4 acorn squash halves. Sprinkle crumbled brittle on prime.
Vitamin
