FONIO-STUFFED ACORN SQUASH

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Fonio-Stuffed Acorn Squash image

Fonio, a grain native to West Africa, adds super fiber and protein to this stuffed squash dish but still feels light and great. The flavors of West Africa and the Caribbean are dear to my heart, and this recipe is a love letter them.

Provided by JJ Johnson

Categories     main-dish

Time 35m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

3 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for the parchment paper
4 medium acorn squash
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup pitted dates, chopped
1 medium shallot, minced
1 cup fonio
1/2 to 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 bunch fresh parsley, chopped
3 tablespoons goat cheese, crumbled

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper and grease the parchment with some oil.
  • Slice the root and stem ends off of the squash and cut each in half widthwise (through the middle). Remove the seeds with a spoon and brush the squash all over with 2 tablespoons of the oil. Season with salt and pepper, place cut-side down on the prepared pans and roast until tender and lightly browned, 20 to 25 minutes.
  • While the squash roasts, cook the fonio filling. In a medium saucepan, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add the dates and shallot. Cook, stirring, until the shallot softens, 5 to 8 minutes.
  • Add the fonio and stir until well-coated with oil. Then pour in the broth and add the red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil, cover the pan and turn the heat to low; simmer 1 minute. Remove from the heat and let rest, covered, for 4 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
  • Fold the parsley into the fonio. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Stuff the squash halves with the fonio mixture and set upright on the parchment-lined sheet pans that you used to roast the squash. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 5 minutes.
  • Uncover, top each squash half with goat cheese and turn the oven to broil. Broil the squash until browned and crunchy on top, 3 to 5 minutes.

Jimnastic El-classico
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This is a great dish for a special occasion. It's elegant and delicious.


Odoh Chidubem
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I love the combination of flavors in this dish. The fonio stuffing is perfectly complemented by the roasted squash.


Eze Kdi
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This recipe is a keeper. I'll definitely be making it again and again.


Lavern Reid
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I served this dish with a side of roasted Brussels sprouts. It was a perfect meal.


Muhammad Ifraheem
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This dish is a great way to get kids to eat their vegetables. My kids loved the sweet squash and savory fonio stuffing.


Teressa Brown
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I roasted the squash and made the fonio stuffing ahead of time. It made assembling the dish a breeze.


waqas naqvi
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I'm not a fan of fonio, so I substituted quinoa. It was still delicious.


Rafaqat Shah
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This dish is a bit time-consuming to make, but it's worth it. The flavors are incredible.


Potki King
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I used a butternut squash instead of an acorn squash. It worked just as well.


Montel Micky
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I added some chopped walnuts to the fonio stuffing for extra crunch. It was a great addition.


Eric Kataya
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This is a great recipe for fall. The squash is roasted to perfection and the fonio stuffing is warm and comforting.


Eve Sis
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I made this dish for a dinner party and it was a huge success. Everyone loved it!


Rebecca Miles
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The instructions were easy to follow and the dish came out perfectly. I will definitely be making this again.


Thandi Lindiwe
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I love that this recipe is gluten-free and vegan. It's a great option for people with dietary restrictions.


Soobunnyzeditz
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This dish is a great way to use up leftover fonio. I had some leftover from a previous meal and it worked perfectly in this recipe.


elizabeth snipes
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I'm not a huge fan of squash, but this recipe changed my mind. The fonio stuffing was savory and perfectly complemented the roasted squash.


Yasmeen Kareem
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This fonio-stuffed acorn squash was a hit with my family! The flavors were incredible and the presentation was beautiful.