Stuffed Squash For Two Recipes

STUFFED SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Cut 1-inch off the top of each acorn squash and scoop out the seeds. If necessary in order for the squash to sit upright, cut off a small portion of the bottom. Put 1 of the 4 pieces of butter in the cavity of each squash. Set squash on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Set aside.
• In a large saute pan over medium heat, brown the ground pork until no longer pink. Remove the meat from the pan, add the olive oil and saute the onion, celery, and carrot until they begin to soften, approximately 7 to 10 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the white wine.
• Return the pork to the pan along with the cooked rice, spinach, pine nuts, oregano and salt and pepper, to taste. Stirring constantly, heat mixture thoroughly, approximately 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat. Divide the mixture evenly among the squash, top each squash with its lid and bake for 1 hour or until the squash is tender. Serve immediately.

STUFFED SQUASH FOR TWO

Steps:

• Cut squash in half; discard seeds. Place squash cut side down in an 11x7-in. baking pan; add 1/2 in. of hot water. , Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30 minutes. Drain water from pan; turn squash cut side up. Brush with butter; sprinkle with brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper. Bake 30-40 minutes or longer or until squash is tender., Meanwhile, in small skillet, cook the beef, celery and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the flour, sage and remaining salt. Gradually stir in milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. , Remove from the heat; stir in croutons. Spoon into squash halves. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

DOUBLE STUFFED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Halve the squash lengthwise, scoop out the seeds and drizzle with EVOO. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and fresh nutmeg and roast until just tender, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly.
• While the squash is in the oven, place a small skillet over medium-high heat and melt the butter. Add the sage leaves to the skillet, gently stirring them around for a few minutes, until they are crispy and a deep green color. Remove the skillet from the heat, set the crispy leaves aside on a paper towel and reserve the brown butter.
• Carefully scoop the flesh of the squash into a bowl keeping the skins intact. Mash with the chicken stock, 1 cup of the Cheddar, 1 cup of the Parm, all of the ricotta, the reserved brown butter, and then adjust seasonings. Stuff the squash shells with the mashed squash mixture, top with a sprinkle of the remaining Cheddar and Parm and bake until the cheese is melted and golden brown on top.
• Remove from the oven and garnish with the fried sage leaves, lightly crushing them in your hand as you sprinkle over the top.
• You may serve a whole half as a meal, or cut each half in halves or thirds and serve as a side.

STUFFED SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Have ready a 1 1/2-quart baking dish. Slice off 1 inch crosswise from stem end of each squash; set aside. Using a melon baller, remove the flesh from squash, bottoms and tops, leaving 1/8-inch-thick shells. Coarsely chop the flesh; set aside. Place the squash bottoms and tops in a steamer, and steam until just tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from steamer; set on a wire rack, cut side down.
• In a large skillet, heat olive oil over high heat. Add onions, garlic, and reserved chopped squash. Season with salt and pepper, and cook until tender, about 6 minutes. Remove from pan, and transfer to a medium bowl.
• Make the filling: Return skillet to heat; add lamb, and cook, breaking up the meat with the back of a wooden spoon, until crumbly and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in wine, and cook until all the liquid is absorbed, about 1 minute. Transfer meat to the squash mixture, and add breadcrumbs, pine nuts, currants, feta, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, mint, and 3 tablespoons tomato sauce. Stir well to combine.
• Stuff the squash to the rims with the meat mixture. Place the squash tops on top. Pour the remaining tomato sauce into the baking dish, and place the stuffed squash in the sauce. Bake until the squash are tender, about 30 minutes. Divide the sauce among the plates, place the squash on top, and serve.

STUFFED SQUASH FOR TWO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Lay each squash on its side.
• Cut about one-third of each lengthwise in wedge; peel the wedge, dice and reserve.
• Scoop out the seeds from the remaining squash; cut a thin slice off each to level with cut side up.
• Place in a microwaveable dish; microwave on high for 12 to 15 minutes or until tender.
• Meanwhile, in a nonstick skillet, melt the butter over medium heat; cook the reserved diced squash, onion and celery, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 minutes.
• Add the mushrooms and garlic; cook for 2 minutes.
• Stir in the tomato paste; cook for 1 minute.
• In a bowl, combine the onion mixture, bread crumbs, cheddar cheese, sunflower seeds, salt and pepper.
• Divide between the two squashes, mounding if necessary.
• Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
• Bake in the oven for 7 to 10 minutes or until golden and heated through.

CHEF JOHN'S STUFFED SUMMER SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly coat it with 1 teaspoon olive oil.
• Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a nonstick pan over medium heat. Stir in sausage and red bell pepper. Cook, stirring to break up sausage into small pieces, until sausage is browned and bell pepper is soft and sweet, 7 to 8 minutes. Drain off any fat.
• Stir goat cheese and sausage mixture in a bowl until well combined. Set aside.
• Hollow out a 3/4-inch deep well in the center of each squash half. Place each piece on the prepared baking sheet, cut-side up. Season with salt and black pepper; fill each with 1 to 2 tablespoons cheese and sausage mixture. Top each squash with breadcrumbs and lightly drizzle with remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until filling is golden and squash is tender, about 30 minutes.