Have you seen these cute little HoneyNut Squash at your grocery store? They’ve just started popping up in a few of our markets and I am captivated by their compact size. These aren’t those 4-pound butternut behemoths. They’re pint-sized miniatures and they fit in the palm of even my lilliputian hands. And they’re fabulous when stuffed!
This post is sponsored by Parmigiano Reggiano. I wasn’t compensated for the article, but I did receive complimentary parmesan for use in the recipe. All opinions are my own.
HoneyNut Squash are sweeter than butternut and because of their smaller size, they cook faster. Bonus!! I thought a hearty, savory filling would go well with its honey-like flavor. For this recipe I used a hearty blend of vegetables, whole grains and Parmigiano Reggiano – the authentic parmesan.
If you want to know if you’re buying authentic Parmigiano Reggiano, just check out the rind — those telltale pinpoints will spell it out for you!
Why does it matter? For me, it’s the taste. It’s the difference between ordering a Coke but getting Pepsi. It’s just not the same.
And real Parmigiano Reggiano is made by one of only 350 producers who are actually certified to make it. (Parmesan actually means from Parma). Now that you’re in the know — let’s get cooking.
For this recipe, I roasted the squash before stuffing them — just slice them in half (it’s really easy because they’re so small) and scoop out the seeds and pulp.
I brushed them with a drizzle of olive oil, sprinkled on salt and placed them face down on the parchment paper to roast for 20 minutes.
While the squash cooked, I assembled the stuffing. Onions and mushrooms got a quick saute before adding the chopped kale and a little broth. The broth helps wilt the kale.
Next came the pre-cooked grains and parmesan cheese. At this point, I’d recommend tasting for seasoning — adding a little black pepper or nutmeg for a flavor enhancer. Scoop out the stuffing and fill the cavities of the squash. A sprinkle of fresh breadcrumbs adds a subtle layer of crunch.
The squash goes back into the oven for a few more minutes to toast the breadcrumbs… and that’s it!
My taste-testers gave these little beauties two thumbs up for presentation and flavor! The tender sweet squash and the hearty parmesan-kissed stuffing hits all the right spots in your mouth and they’ll definitely be on our holiday table this season. Try it with your Thanksgiving turkey, holiday ham or roast beef.
More stuffed vegetable recipes:
- Apple Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash
- Italian Stuffed Peppers
- Cheesy Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms
- Turkey Taco Stuffed Vegetables
- Stuffed Zucchini Boats
- Italian Stuffed Artichokes
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Savory Stuffed Honeynut Squash
Ingredients
For the squash
- 3 honey nut squash
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pinch salt
For the Stuffing
- 1 cup quinoa farro or a blend, cooked at room temperature
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 8 ounces mushrooms fresh , finely diced
- 1 teaspoon thyme fresh
- ½ teaspoon sage dried, crumbled
- 2 cups kale leaves only, tough stems removed, finely chopped
- ¼ cup vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg freshly grated
- ¾ cup Parmigiano Reggiano freshly grated
For topping
- 1 teaspoon butter
- 1 slice bread I used potato bread, but sourdough or plain white bread work fine too
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cut the squash in half, vertically and scoop out the seeds. Drizzle the cut side with olive oil and rub it into the flesh. Sprinkle with salt and place the squash cut-side-down onto the baking sheet. Roast for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile in a medium skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat and add the onions and garlic. Saute for 2-3 minutes then stir in the chopped mushrooms, thyme, sage and salt, cook until the mushrooms release their liquid, about 5 minutes. Stir in the chopped kale and vegetable broth, cover and reduce heat to a simmer for 3-4 minutes until kale softens. Stir in the pepper, nutmeg and the cooked grains. Add the parmigiano reggiano and stir until just combined.
- Tear the bread into large pieces and transfer to a mini prep food processor. Add the butter and pulse several times until it forms bread crumbs.
- When the squash is done, fill the cavities with the stuffing and sprinkle with breadcrumbs and bake for an additional 10 minutes. If the breadcrumbs need additional browning, turn on the broiler and cook just until the breadcrumbs start to brown, (about a minute or two).
Recipe Video
Notes
Nutrition
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This recipe was EXCELLENT! Picked up the squash without knowing what it was, searched and found this recipe. Can’t say enough good about it!!
So glad you enjoyed it, Kathy! Aren’t those honey nut squash delish?
I picked up these honey nut squash from the farmer’s market near my job. The farmer told me that if I loved butternut squash I would love these because they would be a bit sweeter. I ran across your recipe and decided to try it for my new found vegetable. This dish was amazing!! I used spinach instead of kale because it’s what I had on hand and I substituted panko crumbs for the bread crumbs. It was absolutely delicious and I can’t wait to try this squash and this recipe again! Thanks!
Aren’t those squash the best? We love them. I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe — to me, it’s a great fall or winter side dish.