This freekeh and veggie stuffed acorn squash makes a festive side dish. It’s perfect for livening up weeknight dinner or serving as a side on the Thanksgiving table.

Whole Grains for the Win

I am a lover of grains. After all, grains keep us going, giving us the energy we need to keep both our brain and muscle cells going strong. That said, I love to vary my grains, and my pantry has everything from classic wheat pasta to whole-grain bulgur, barley, farro, and freekeh.

Freekeh? Yes! Have you tried cooking with freekeh yet? Not only is this ancient Middle Eastern grain fun to say (“freek-ah”), it also has a delicious, nutty taste and packs a nutrient punch.

Freekeh Nutrition

Freekeh is wheat harvested when young and still green, then roasted and cracked, similar to bulgur. It’s very high in fiber and a good source of protein and iron. I used Bob’s Red Mill brand, which, per 1/4 cup dry serving, has:

• 7 grams of protein
• 8 grams of fiber
• 10% of iron needs

Need a gluten-free alternative? Try amaranth, quinoa, millet, or brown rice.

Recipe 1-2-3

This recipe has 3 parts, which are included in the recipe below, but if you get overwhelmed by a long list of steps (like I do) this is how it breaks down:

1. Prepare the freekeh according to package directions. I cooked it in veggie stock for added flavor.
2. Pre-cook the acorn squash: Brush the halved, deseeded squash with olive oil and place it face down on a baking sheet. Cook at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
3. Next, sauté veggies and combine them with the freekeh. Finally, stuff the squash and roast for another 10-20 minutes. (Additional cooking isn’t necessary, but it’s good if you want it hot or are preparing ahead of time and plan to reheat it.)

This recipe was inspired by a recipe in my Moosewood cookbook. The author, longtime vegetarian guru Mollie Katzen, offers a few different variations for stuffed squash, all delicious.

Lastly, like any recipe, once you make this, you will develop a sense for how to adapt it to the ingredients you have on hand, your dietary needs, and your own preferences. So I hope you will do just that, use this recipe to guide and inspire your own stuffed squash!

More Recipes

Love winter squash? Check out these other favorites:

• Roasted Roots and Squash Kale-Quinoa Salad
• Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Cashew Cream
• Festive Roasted Acorn Squash

Freekeh Stuffed Acorn Squash

This freekeh stuffed acorn squash makes a festive side dish. It's perfect for livening up the weeknight dinner or as a side dish on the Thanksgiving table. Serves 4-6 as a side dish and 2-4 as a main dish. If serving as a main dish, consider adding cooked lentils to increase protein.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Servings: 4 people

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American, Vegetarian

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

• 2 1/2 cups vegetable stock or water
• 1 cup freekeh or try farro or quinoa
• 2 whole acorn squash
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1-2 stalks celery, finely chopped
• 1 apple, diced or go savory and add 8 oz of chopped mushrooms
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Freshly ground pepper to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 cup minced walnuts
• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
• 4 cups baby spinach

Additional Add-in Ideas

• crumbled feta cheese, mix in
• sliced or shredded cheddar cheese, melt on top

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a medium pot, bring stock (or water) to a boil. Add the freekeh, cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer until all liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes.
3. Cut the acorn squash in half and remove the seeds. Brush with half of the olive oil and roast, face down for 25-30 minutes, until soft.
4. While freekeh is cooking and squash is roasting, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, celery, and apple and saute for 3-4 minutes. Add the salt, pepper, thyme, walnuts, and sunflower seeds and saute for another couple of minutes. Then add the baby spinach and saute until just wilted.
5. Add the cooked freekeh and the sauteed veggies to a large bowl and combine. Adjust seasoning to taste.
6. Divide mixture into the halved, pre-cooked acorn squash. Serve as is, or, if serving later or melting cheese on top, bake for 10-25 minutes just before serving.