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Greg’s Stuffed Acorn Squash with Quinoa, Cranberries, and Swiss Chard

Equipment

  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Small bowl
  • Medium saucepan
  • Large sauté pan
  • Knife
  • Fine mesh sieve
  • Pastry brush
  • Measuring cups/spoons

Ingredients
  

For Squash:

  • 4 acorn squash
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes

For Filling:

  • 1 cup quinoa
  • 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon finely diced shallot
  • 3 tablespoons finely diced fennel
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon ground coriander
  • 2 cups vegetable broth or more if needed
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes
  • ½ cup dried cranberries or raisins
  • 6 cups stemmed and chopped Swiss chard or kale in bite-sized pieces
  • Freshly squeezed lemon

Instructions
 

For Squash:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Cut the tops off the squash and scoop out strings and seeds. Cut the pointy ends off the bottoms of the squash so they stand up once stuffed.
  • Stir olive oil, salt, allspice, ginger, cinnamon, and red pepper flakes together in a bowl.
  • Using a pastry brush, spread spice mixture on top and inside the squash. Place squash, top side down, on prepared sheet pan and roast for 20 to 25 minutes, until a fork easily passes through the squash. Once squash is done, remove from oven and cover with foil until ready to fill.

For Filling:

  • Put quinoa in the fine-mesh sieve and rinse well under cold running water.
  • Heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil in saucepan over medium heat. Add shallot and fennel and sauté until soft, about 3 minutes. Add cumin, coriander, quinoa, broth, and ¼ teaspoon of salt. Cover and bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, until quinoa has absorbed all the liquid. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork.
  • While quinoa is cooking, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in large sauté pan over medium heat, then add garlic, red pepper flakes, and cranberries. Stir for 10 seconds then add chard or kale and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt.
  • Sauté until greens are tender, about 3 minutes for chard, 5 minutes for kale. Remove from heat and stir in a squeeze of lemon.
  • To assemble the dish, spoon quinoa mixture into the squash cavity, then top each squash with a scoop of greens.
  • Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days or in the freezer for 1 month.

Notes

Recipe adapted from The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen Cookbook, 2nd Edition, written by Rebecca Katz with Mat Edelson