The stuffed squashes look so pretty and they are packed with so much flavours and different textures. I love the earthy flavours of mushrooms combined with the sweetness of the cranberries and pomegranate with a little crunchy bite from the pecans. Ingredients:
Serves 4
For the quinoa stuffing:
1 cup of dry quinoa + 2 cups of water
About 250gr of Shitake mushrooms – sliced
1 red onion – finely chopped
2 garlic cloves – crushed
The seeds of 1 pomegranate
A handful of pecans – roughly chopped
A handful of chopped dried cranberries
2 tbsp of lime juice
2 tbsp of soy sauce
1 tbs of finely chopped fresh parsley
1 tbsp of oil for cooking
Salt & pepper to taste
About 4 small squashes
With a sharp knife cut the top off the squashes. Cut a circle in the middle and scope out all the seeds and the stringy pulp. Brush them with some oil. Put the “top” back on the squash and bake them in the oven for 25 minutes until they start to soften.
Start by cooking the quinoa. Add the dry quinoa + the 2 cups of water to a pan. Bring it to boil. Once its boiling turn the heat down, put the lid on and cook for about 10-5 minutes until all the water has been absorbed. Fluf the quinoa with a fork and leave it onto one side.
In a separate pan add in the oil with the finely chopped onion. Cook the onion on a medium heat until it starts to soften and caramelised. Add in the crushed garlic and cook for another minute. Add in the chopped shiitake mushrooms and the soy sauce. Cook on a medium heat for around 10 minutes until all the water from the mushrooms have evaporated. Add the cooked quinoa, chopped pecans, dried cranberries, lemon juice, chopped parsley and the pomegranate seeds. Give everything a good mix and adjust with salt and pepper.
Fill up the squashes with the quinoa filling, put the top back on and bake them in the oven for another 8 minutes.
Serve them straight away while still hot!
For this recipe I have used Robert Welch
Signature knife stater set, Pebble oak chopping board and Campden non stick frying pan which together are just the perfect gift for budding chefs friends and family or for anyone who wants to upgrade their kitchen experience! Find out more here