Roasted Acorn Squash and Moroccan Beef Inspired Stuffing

Acorn squash is in season again!  Have you seen them appearing in your markets?  I love roasted acorn squash and did a post last year about how to make it, as well as how to roast the seeds.

Roasted Acorn Squash wedge with butter, maple syrup, and cinnamon

Roasted Acorn Seeds

This time, I tossed the seeds in oil and seasoned with cinnamon and sugar and roasted them in our Cuisinart toaster oven before making the stuffed squash.   I served them on our salads with dinner.  So yummy!

As for the stuffed squash, first you have to prep the halves by removing the seeds, then cutting off a little sliver on the bottom so they can sit upright without being a Weeble (70s reference to show my age).

Brush squash halves with oil and sprinkle with cinnamon.  Place face down in a pan, cover with foil and roast in oven.  While they roast, prepare the stuffing.    I wanted something hearty so I used beef and onions.  And thinking of how well acorn squash goes with cinnamon and sweet flavors, I thought it would be great to make a sweet and savory dish.  Moroccan recipes often call for cinnamon, ginger, allspice with meats, so I looked at a bunch of recipes which inspired me to choose spices for this dish.  I also added some cooked brown rice for chewy texture and nuttiness and added golden raisins for another layer of sweetness.

Hope you like this sweet and savory fall dish!

maple syrup to taste

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.   Cut sliver off bottom of both acorn halves so that it doesn’t wobble when resting upright. Brush cut sides of squash with oil, sprinkle with 1 teaspoon cinnamon and place cavity side down on a baking.  Cover with foil and bake for about 45 to 50  minutes, until tender when pierced.

2.  In large frying pan, heat oil over medium heat and cook onion for 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook 1 more minute.

3.  Mix in ground beef, salt, remaining stirring to break up beef. Add rest of cinnamon (1 teaspoon), allspice, and cumin and stir to coat meat.   Cook until beef is browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes.

4.  Stir in cooked rice and raisins and sauté until heated through.

5.  Dot acorn squash cavities with butter and press in with a fork.  Drizzle with maple syrup.  Fill cavities with beef stuffing.  You may have a little leftover stuffing.  I made my son a burrito with the leftover filling and he loved it!