Stuffed Honeynut Squash Recipes

WHOLE STUFFED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or a silicone mat and place a rack on top.
• Halve the butternut squash lengthwise. Remove the seeds and discard. Using a melon baller, cut a channel into the neck of the squash, leaving a 3/4-inch border of flesh on the sides and bottom. Save the removed squash for another use or discard. Season the flesh with salt and pepper.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium-high heat in a small skillet. Add the celery and onions and cook just until softened, about 3 minutes. Combine the celery and onions, cornbread, rosemary, thyme, sage, cranberries and pecans in a bowl and toss to combine well. Add the vegetable stock and mix just until moistened and combined. Season with salt and pepper.
• Line the bottom of each butternut squash half with a layer of green beans. Top with the cornbread filling. Lay the carrot down the middle of 1 of the squash halves. Spread about 1 teaspoon of the butter over the carrot (enough to generously coat) and dot the cornbread mixture evenly with the remaining butter. Sprinkle the carrot with the brown sugar. Slide the squash pieces next to each other and carefully close the butternut squash and lay on one side. Tie in the middle and at each end with butcher's twine.
• Crumple a piece of aluminum foil into a 24-inch-long "snake". Curl this around and place on the prepared rack. Nestle the squash inside it so the squash sits flat on the rack and doesn't roll.
• Drizzle the whole squash with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Roast until a knife easily slides through all of the layers, 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let it sit for 10 minutes. Slice crosswise and serve.

GROUND BEEF-STUFFED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Cut the butternut squash in half, lengthwise. Scoop out and throw away seeds. Brush the cut side of squash with 1 teaspoon oil. Place cut-side down onto a baking sheet and cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until tender, about 30 minutes. Remove and let cool, 5 to 10 minutes. Leave the oven on.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large saute pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef in the hot oil until browned and crumbly, about 10 minutes. Add onion, apple, and garlic. Continue to cook, while stirring around, until vegetables are slightly soft, 5 to 10 minutes more.
• Turn squash over and place cut-side up onto the baking pan. Fill the centers of the squash with beef mixture. Dot each with 1 tablespoon butter and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon brown sugar.
• Bake, uncovered, in the preheated oven until brown sugar is golden brown, 15 to 25 minutes. Take out of the oven and sprinkle each half with goat cheese. Serve.

STUFFED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400. Peel and trim the squash; separate the necks from the bases. Scoop out the seeds from the bases, and reserve. Roughly dice the necks into pieces no bigger than 1/2 inch.
• Rub the hollowed out bases inside and out with olive oil; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Stand them up on a rimmed baking sheet, and roast, flipping once, until they are browned all over and you can easily pierce the flesh with the tip of a sharp knife, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, soak the porcinis in 1 cup hot water until soft; remove, and chop them, reserving the liquid. Put 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally until it begins to soften - about 5 minutes. Add the chopped squash and porcinis, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally until the squash is nicely browned, 8 to 12 minutes.
• Add the red wine, stirring to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom, and let it bubble away until it almost disappears. Add the porcini soaking liquid (leave any sediment behind) and the stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover partly and cook, adding more liquid if the pan gets too dry, until the squash is very tender, 10 to 15 minutes; taste, and adjust seasoning.
• Put 1 tablespoon olive oil in a separate small skillet. When the oil is hot, add the squash seeds and cook, stirring occasionally until golden brown and crisp, 4 to 6 minutes. Turn off the heat, add the chopped sage, lemon zest and a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and toss.
• When the squash bases are done, spoon the chopped squash mixture into the cavities (save the leftover stuffing, or serve it on the side). Sprinkle the squash seeds over the top, and serve.