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Cozy Stuffed Acorn Squash with Wild Rice

stuffed acorn squash - featured image
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A comforting holiday side dish featuring roasted acorn squash halves filled with a savory mixture of wild rice, herbs, walnuts, and cranberries.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 medium acorn squash
  • Olive oil (for brushing)
  • Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
  • 1 cup dry wild rice
  • 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 stalk celery, finely diced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh sage, chopped
  • 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped and toasted
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Cut acorn squash in half lengthwise, scoop out seeds and pulp.
  3. Brush cut sides with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place cut-side down on baking sheet.
  4. Roast squash for 45-50 minutes until tender, then flip cut-side up and reduce oven temperature to 350°F (175°C).
  5. While squash roasts, rinse wild rice. Combine with vegetable broth in a saucepan, bring to boil, then simmer covered for 40-45 minutes until tender. Fluff with a fork.
  6. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Sauté onion and celery for 5-7 minutes until softened.
  7. Add garlic and sage, cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  8. Stir in cooked wild rice, walnuts, and cranberries. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  9. Spoon the rice mixture generously into each squash half.
  10. Place stuffed squash back on baking sheet, cut-side up.
  11. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes until filling is hot and squash is piping warm.

Notes

Wild rice takes longer to cook than white rice; ensure it is fully tender. Toast walnuts in a dry skillet for 2-3 minutes before adding to filling for extra crunch. For a vegan version, substitute butter with olive oil or vegan butter. The dish can be made ahead by roasting squash and cooking rice up to 2 days in advance.

Nutrition

Keywords: acorn squash, wild rice, stuffed squash, holiday side dish, vegetarian, gluten-free, fall recipes, Thanksgiving

Find it online: https://zoeplate.com/cozy-stuffed-acorn-squash-with-wild-rice-best-easy-holiday-side/