Stuffed Squash

Stuffed squash is a savory dish made by stuffing squash with meat and/or vegetable mix and several seasonings, spices, and herbs. Stuffed squashes are often consumed as main dish, and may be made with any type of squash like butternut squash, acorn squash, and zucchini squash, which are broadly classified into two types, viz. summer squash and winter squash. Of various squashes, acorn squash and butternut squash come under winter squash category, and zucchini comes under summer squash category. There are various types of stuffed squash dishes made with varied stuffing ingredients and different type of squashes. Cheese is also used as one of the vital squash stuffing ingredients in almost all the recipe variations.

Commonly Used Ingredients and Preparation Overview of Stuffed Summer Squash

A simple stuffed squash recipe suggests the use of summer squash, rinsed quinoa (A grain like crop, which is related to species like spinach and beets),  goat cheese, herbs, lemon juice, diced carrots, diced bell peppers, minced kale (purple or green colored cabbage), diced onion, French mustard, bread crumbs, and butter.

The stuffed summer squash is prepared by cutting the squash lengthwise, and stuffing it with quinoa filling after removing the seeds from squash. A mix of melted butter, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, and lemon juice is sprinkled over stuffed squash before baking it in oven. The quinoa filling used as the squash stuffing is prepared by boiling herbs and quinoa together, and then combining the mix with sautéed vegetables, goat, cheese, seasonings, and herbs.   

Stuffed Squash Recipe Variations

A few popular variations of stuffed squash explained in terms of use of distinct stuffing ingredients and varied squash are discussed below:

• Vegetarian stuffed acorn squash- the recipe for this stuffed squash suggests cutting the squash midway, getting rid of its seeds, baking it, stuffing it with vegetable mix, and then baking it in oven twice: first covered and then uncovered to attain a slight crispy texture. The vegetable mix used as squash stuffing is prepared by sautéing together onions, carrots, and celery in some oil, before adding mushrooms, garlic, sherry, bread cubes, sunflower seeds, raisins, walnuts, and sun-dried tomatoes. The vegetable mix is seasoned with pepper and salt, and cheese is stirred in before stuffing the squash with this mix. Cooked wild rice or brown rice can also be added to the vegetable mix before stuffing it in the acorn squash. A recipe variant also suggests topping the stuffed squash with cheese and then baking it.

• Sausage stuffed zucchini- zucchini, which is a popular summer squash, is stuffed with sausage mix, as per the recipe for this dish. The sausage mix used as the squash stuffing is prepared by combining cooked sausage with onions, garlic, and several seasonings and spices.

• Stuffed butternut squash- the recipe for this stuffed squash suggests cutting the butternut squash in half, removing the seeds, and then stuffing it with a cooked mix of onions, ground beef, tomato paste, cooked rice, cheese, and some water.