Best Stuffed Delicata Squash Recipes

WILD RICE & LENTIL STUFFED DELICATA SQUASH WITH CRANBERRIES & PECANS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Make the pilaf. Set a large saute pan with lid (or a medium dutch oven) over low heat. Add the olive oil. When hot, add the onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring frequently, until a few pieces of the rice start to get golden on the ends, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic, 1 teaspoon curry powder, cumin, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring frequently, for one more minute.
• Add 3 cups of the vegetable broth, the brown sugar, and the lentils. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat to a simmer, stir, and cover. Set the timer for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. If the mixture begins to get too dry before being cooked all of the way, add additional broth. If the mixture seems too wet after cooking for awhile, vent the pan to help some of the liquid evaporate. I've found making the pilaf is not an exact science as each pan is different, so just monitor your pilaf as it cooks. Pilaf is done when it's relatively dry and the lentils and rice are tender, about 40 minutes.
• Remove pilaf from heat and stir the dried cranberries and chopped pecans. Taste and add the remaining teaspoon of curry powder and more salt and pepper if you wish.
• Meanwhile, while the pilaf cooks, prepare the delicata squash. Cut the stems off the ends, half lengthwise, scrape the seeds out with a spoon, and brush the inside of each half with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and place cut side down on a large baking sheet. Bake for about 20 minutes, until fork-tender and golden around the edges. Remove from oven.
• When ready to serve, flip over the delicata squash and spoon pilaf into the squash halves. I like to mound it just a bit but not too much or serving will become interesting (as in messy). You may have some pilaf left over. Transfer to serving plate and sprinkle chopped parsley over the top. Serve.

TURKEY SAUSAGE-STUFFED DELICATA SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.
• Brush cut sides of squash with 2 teaspoons oil. Place cut-sides down on the baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until soft, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a medium pan over medium-high heat. Add turkey sausage. Saute, breaking up into small crumbles, until browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and add celery, onion, garlic, sage, rosemary and thyme. Continue cooking until vegetables are soft, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in rice, cherries, and parsley until mixture is warmed through, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Turn squash halves over so they are cut-side up. Fill with the sausage mixture and top with Parmesan cheese. Return to oven and bake until cheese is melted, 2 to 3 minutes.

BAKED AND STUFFED DELICATA SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Combine bacon, sour cream, shredded Italian cheese blend, onion, garlic, olives, pepper, and salt in a bowl and stir to blend. Place squash halves in a baking dish and fill each with stuffing.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown on top, 30 to 40 minutes. Serve garnished with parsley and cherry tomatoes.

WHOLE-ROASTED STUFFED DELICATA SQUASH

Steps:

• Cut 1 inch off the top and bottom of each squash. Use a melon baller or small spoon to scrape out the seeds. Sprinkle the inside of the squash with salt and pepper, then stand them upright on an oiled baking sheet.
• Heat oven to 425 degrees. In a large saucepan set over medium-high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter. When it foams, add onions to pan and sauté, stirring frequently, until they begin to soften and turn translucent, approximately 6 to 8 minutes. Add kale to pan and continue to cook, tossing, until kale begins to wilt, about 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat and put vegetables into a large bowl.
• Meanwhile, place bread cubes on a sheet pan and toast in the oven until they begin to crisp on the outside, approximately 7 to 9 minutes. Add bread cubes to the bowl with the vegetables, and then add blue cheese and cranberries. Stir to combine.
• Put pecans in a dry sauté pan set over medium heat and toast the nuts until they begin to darken and turn fragrant, approximately 4 to 6 minutes. Stir in maple syrup and allow to cook for 1 minute, then scrape into the bowl with the rest of the stuffing and toss to combine. Taste and season the mixture with salt and pepper.
• Lower oven temperature to 400 degrees. Divide the stuffing between the squash. Cut the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter into 6 pieces, and top each squash with a dot of butter. Roast squash until the flesh has softened and you can easily pierce it with a fork, approximately 45 minutes. If the squash is browning too quickly, lay a sheet of aluminum foil over the top to prevent burning.
• Sprinkle parsley over the squash. Serve 1 whole squash per person as a main course, or 1/2 squash or less as a side dish.

SHRIMP STUFFED DELICATA SQUASH

Steps:

• Place squash halves, hollow-side down, into a microwave-safe dish; pour in water. Cover with a paper towel or microwave-safe lid.
• Microwave squash until tender, about 15 minutes.
• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onion and bell pepper in the hot oil until tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Add shrimp, corn, and peas; cook until shrimp is is no longer transparent in the center and water has evaporated from frozen vegetables, about 5 minutes. Season with curry powder, salt, and pepper.
• Scoop shrimp mixture into squash halves.

SHANNON'S STUFFED DELICATA SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place squash cut side-down on a shallow baking dish with about 1/2 inch water at the bottom.
• Bake in the preheated oven until fork-tender, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add onion and celery; cook and stir until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add turkey, bacon, garlic, turmeric, cumin, safflower, and sea salt; cook and stir until turkey is no longer pink, about 6 minutes. Add chard and just enough broth to create steam. Cook until chard is wilted and liquid has evaporated, about 4 minutes.
• Drain any remaining liquid from under the squash. Flip squash cut side-up. Spread goat cheese equally over each squash half; fill cavities with the turkey mixture.
• Toss bread crumbs and butter together lightly in a bowl; spread evenly over the squash halves. Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
• Return squash to the oven and bake under the broiler, watching closely, until bread crumbs are golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes.

DELICATA SQUASH STUFFED WITH DRIED FRUIT AND NUTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place squash cut side down on a baking pan with sides. Add 1/2 inch water to pan.
• Bake for 30 minutes or until squash is slightly soft. Remove squash from oven. Pour water off pan and carefully turn over so cut side is up.
• Combine all ingredients for stuffing mixture.
• Place mixture into the 4 squash cavities. Return to oven, continue baking for 30 minutes or until squash is soft and topping is browned.
• Serve immediately.

STUFFED DELICATA SQUASH WITH LENTILS AND CASHEW RAITA

Steps:

• Place the cashew pieces in a bowl and cover with cool water. Cover and place in the fridge to soak for four hours.
• Thoroughly drain the soaked cashews and combine with the chopped mint, lemon juice, water and salt in a blender. Purée, pausing to scrape down the sides of the canister with a spatula as needed, until completely silky-smooth. This process may take longer if you use a lower-powered blender, but stick with it; that creamy texture is important. Stir in the cucumber pieces by hand. Store in an air-tight container and keep refrigerated prior to serving.
• For the filling, heat olive oil in a medium pot over medium heat before adding the shallots and jalapeno. Cook until translucent, then add the cumin and mustard seeds. Cook until the entire mixture is highly aromatic, about a minute. Add the lentils and broth and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer and cover. Cook for about 30 minutes, until the liquid has absorbed and lentils are tender. Add the coconut milk and vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Keep the pot partially covered and simmer for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, until the liquid has been absorbed. Cover and keep warm.
• As the lentils cook, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut both squash in half lengthwise and scoop out (but reserve) seeds. Place each half with the cut sides down on a lightly greased baking sheet and bake for about 30 minutes, or until a fork easily pierces the flesh. Remove from oven and let cool for at least 5 minutes before handling.
• Reduce oven to 250 degrees and toss the reserved seeds with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and a pinch of salt and roast for 10 to 20 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent them from burning. Once golden and crisp, remove from oven and allow to cool.
• Flip the roasted delicata squashes up to turn them into boats and spoon the warm lentils inside. Serve the cashew raita alongside for guests to top their squashes as desired and finish with a sprinkle of roasted seeds.

SHRIMP-STUFFED DELICATA SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Toss the squash with a drizzle of oil and some salt. Place on the prepared baking sheet and roast until fork tender, about 25 minutes.
• Heat a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat and add 3 tablespoons of the oil. Once the oil is hot and shimmering, add the onions, peppers and a pinch of salt and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Mince the garlic with a pinch of salt to help break it down. Stir it into the skillet along with the smoked paprika, harissa paste, tomato paste and the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and cook until caramelized, about 4 minutes. Stir in 1 cup of water and a large pinch of salt. Simmer until the sauce has thickened, 3 to 5 minutes.
• While the sauce simmers, dice the shrimp into 1/2-inch pieces. Add the shrimp and butter to the sauce. Cook until the shrimp are cooked through, about 3 minutes. Stir in the vinegar to finish.
• Plate 1 delicata ring per plate and heap the shrimp into the center of the squash. Top with a sprinkle of parsley.

WILD RICE-STUFFED DELICATA SQUASH

Steps:

• Cook rice as directed on package, omitting the butter. Meanwhile, pierce each squash in several places with sharp knife; place on double layer of paper towels. Microwave on HIGH 5 to 7 min. or until squash is tender; cool slightly.
• Heat oven to 400°F. Cut squash lengthwise in half; scoop out and discard seeds. Place squash, cut sides up, in 13x9-inch baking dish; brush evenly with 1 Tbsp. of the dressing.
• Heat remaining dressing in large skillet on medium heat. Add mushrooms and celery; cook 4 to 5 min. or until tender, stirring frequently. Add cream cheese spread and rice; cook and stir on medium-low heat 2 to 3 min. or until cream cheese is completely melted and mixture is well blended. Spoon into squash halves; sprinkle with nuts.
• Bake 20 to 25 min. or until squash is tender and filling is heated through.

STUFFED DELICATA SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Brush inside surface of delicata squash halves with about 1 teaspoon olive oil; place on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until tender when pierced with a fork, about 30 minutes.
• Heat remaining 1 teaspoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir apples and onion until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir garlic, rosemary, and cinnamon into apple mixture; season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to low; continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until apples are tender, about 5 minutes.
• Place bacon in a skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until crisp, about 8 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels.
• Fill delicata halves with apple mixture; crumble bacon and goat cheese over apple mixture.

WHITE BEAN AND KALE STUFFED DELICATA SQUASH

Steps:

• Prepare the Squash 1. Preheat the oven to 350. 2. Cut the squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. 3. Brush your oil over the insides of the squash and season with salt and pepper. 4. Bake in the oven until just tender (make sure they aren't so soft they are falling apart). During the last 15 minutes of cooking, assemble the filling. 1. In a large saute pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Alternately, cook pancetta or guanciale for 10 minutes to render the fat. Use fat to cook remaining stuffing. 2. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. 3. Turn the heat up to medium-high and add the kale. 4. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. 5. Turn the heat back down to medium and add the white beans and sage. 6. Season with salt and pepper and set aside until the squash is done. Stuff the squash 1. Remove the squash from the oven. 2. Fill with the kale and white bean mixture. 3. Mix the Parmesan and bread crumbs together and top the stuffed squash with the mixture. 4. Bake for another 10 minutes, or until the Parmesan is melted and the stuffing is heated through. 5. Serve and enjoy.

PILAR VALDES' ROAST DELICATA SQUASH STUFFED WITH GRAINS, ROSEMARY-MISO MAPLE DRESSING

Steps:

• prepPreheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, miso, rosemary, warm spice and olive oil until combined. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Set aside. Trim the ends of the delicata squash. Cut in half crosswise and scoop out the seeds. (Save the seeds for another use.) Place the squash halves in the bowl with the dressing. Add the grapes. Toss to coat. Transfer the squash, trimmed ends down, to a prepared sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Add the grapes. (Set aside the leftover dressing.) Roast until the squash is fully cooked and offers little resistance when pierced with a knife, but still maintains its shape, about 35 minutes. Cover, and keep warm. Meanwhile, set a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until it just starts to get crispy. Reduce the heat to medium-low and pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the rendered fat (save it for another use). Add the shallots and continue to cook until the shallots are softened and fully cooked, about 3 minutes more. Turn off the heat. Gently add to the bacon-shallot mixture the cooked rice, remaining miso-maple dressing, celery, pepitas, roasted grapes and fresh greens. Check seasoning and add salt or black pepper, to taste. Stuff the warm delicata squash with the fall grain mixture and serve.