Description
Creamy cheesy rice-stuffed acorn squash combines autumn’s hearty harvest with comforting flavors from Mediterranean kitchens. Savory ingredients blend perfectly, offering a warm meal that welcomes hungry diners to savor each delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 acorn squash, medium, halved and seeds removed
- 1 cup rice, cooked (white, brown, or wild)
- ½ cup cheese, cheddar, shredded (or mozzarella)
- ¼ cup cheese, Parmesan, grated
- 1 cup spinach, chopped (or kale)
- ½ onion, small, finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 3 tbsps olive oil
- ¼ cup cream, heavy (or milk for a lighter version)
- ½ tsp thyme, dried
- ½ tsp oregano, dried
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper, black
- ¼ tsp pepper flakes, red (optional, for a little heat)
- salt and black pepper, to taste
- cheese, extra shredded, for broiling
- parsley or thyme, fresh, chopped
Instructions
- Roasting Preparation: Slice acorn squash lengthwise, removing seeds and creating clean cavities for filling; brush interior with olive oil and season with salt and black pepper.
- Initial Roasting Phase: Place squash halves face-down on parchment-lined baking sheet, roast in preheated oven at 400°F for 25-30 minutes until fork-tender, developing caramelized edges and soft texture.
- Rice Mixture Development: Simultaneously prepare filling by combining cooked rice with shredded cheese, finely chopped herbs, and sautéed aromatics, creating a robust and flavorful stuffing.
- Filling and Final Baking: Flip roasted squash halves, generously fill with prepared rice mixture, ensuring even distribution and slight mounding; return to oven and bake additional 10-15 minutes until cheese melts and top develops golden, crispy texture.
- Serving Preparation: Remove from oven, allow stuffed squash to rest briefly for flavor integration and filling stabilization before presenting at the table.
Notes
- Maximize Squash Flavor: Gently massage olive oil into squash interior to boost caramelization and develop deeper, richer taste profiles.
- Perfect Roasting Technique: Position squash face-down to create even caramelization and prevent excessive moisture loss during cooking.
- Cheese Melting Hack: Use a blend of melting cheeses like sharp cheddar and gruyere for optimal gooey texture and complex flavor development.
- Dietary Adaptation Tip: Swap regular rice with quinoa or cauliflower rice for gluten-free and low-carb versions, maintaining the dish’s core deliciousness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg