We’ve got two months left in the year with Thanksgiving and Christmas around the corner and so I’m getting all festive on the blog today with this Quinoa Stuffed Squash with Walnuts and Pomegranate. I got a lovely winter squash selection from one of my favourite organic producers, just perfect to create a special plantbased, seasonal and super wholesome meal that’s perfect for the upcoming holiday season. For this recipe I’m collaborating with Debenhams on their Christmas-themed recipe campaign. They’ve sent me some lovely products from Ashley Thomas Christmas collection including tea towels, oven gloves, apron, cake tins and tea cozy and I have to say it’s already getting me into the mood. Their Christmas print tea towels are my favourite and I’m looking forward using them during Christmas this year.
In this recipe I’ve used six small winter squashes in different varieties, they all have slightly different flavours which I think make the meal more fun. You can use any type of squash or pumpkin that you like in this recipe. I’ve also roasted the squash seeds and used them for topping. It is fiddly, but so worth it and they add lovely crispiness. If you don’t fancy roasting them, just use pumpkin seeds instead. I’ve added the pomegranate for the gorgeous red colour and the festive feel. Cranberries would also work well. I’ve tried to keep the ingredients simple and not over complicating the recipe, but you can always add extras – different nuts, seeds, leafy greens, mushrooms… whatever you fancy. Enjoy:) x
Special thank you to Debenhams for sponsoring this post.
- 6 mini winter squashes
- 250g quinoa ( 1½ cups)
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 celery sticks, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 5 thyme sprigs
- ½tsp oregano
- sea salt & pepper
- 240g cooked aduki beans, optional (1½ cup)
- 75g walnuts, toasted (2/3 cup)
- small bunch fresh parsley, chopped
- pomegranate seeds to serve
- For the squash seeds:
- thyme & oregano
- sea salt
- paprika or cayenne pepper (optional)
- olive oil
- Preheat the oven to 200°C (400F)
- Wash the squash and cut about ¼ to ⅓ from the top to make a lid. Scoop out all of the seeds and save to use later. Rub the outside and the inside with little olive or coconut oil and season with sea salt. Place onto a baking tray with the lids on and bake for 40-45 minutes until soft when pierced with a fork.
- Separate the seeds from the fleshy part (very fiddly) and rinse in warm water. Pat dry and place onto a baking tray. Toss with little olive or coconut oil, thyme, oregano, sea salt and pepper and roast for about 20-25 minutes until slightly brown and crispy.
- Roast the walnuts for about 10 minutes until fragrant.
- Measure 1½ cup of quinoa, place into a mesh strainer and rinse under running water. Place into medium pot and cover with 2¼ cup water. (1½ times the volume of quinoa) Bring to boil, cover with lid and simmer on a low heat until all of the water has been absorbed. Leave to stand for 10 minutes covered and fluff up with fork.
- In a medium pan heat 2tbsp of olive or coconut oil, add chopped onion and celery and saute for about 5 minutes, add garlic, thyme and oregano and cook for 5 more minutes. Stir in aduki beans if using and season with sea salt and black pepper.
- Stir the mixture into the cooked quinoa, add roughly chopped walnuts, chopped fresh parsley and season to taste.
- Stuff each of the squash with the mixture and place back into the oven for 10 more minutes to warm through before serving.
- Top with pomegranate, fresh parsley, thyme and freshly roasted squash seeds.
- Enjoy!
Teresa Franke says
November 9, 2016 at 5:43 pmSo now you’ve got me feeling all Christmassy here and now I know what to do with that gorgeous Celebration squash, and a few other squash varieties, that I bought at the farmer’s market! Thanks Hana – that was a really lovely post! Can’t wait to try this recipe xxx
Hana says
November 9, 2016 at 9:41 pmYou’re so welcome Teresa! I’m really happy that you’ve enjoyed this post, I had a great time creating it! Christmas comes and goes so fast, we might as well already get into the mood now:) xxx
Aimee | Wallflower Kitchen says
November 9, 2016 at 11:55 pmSuch a beautiful, wholesome, comforting recipe! Love this time of year for food.
Hana says
November 10, 2016 at 9:44 amThank you so much Aimee! Yes, we are spoiled for choice at this time of a year! I love it too:) x
Gabriella @ Putumayo Kitchen says
November 10, 2016 at 12:03 pmWow this looks so beautiful!! This will be an amazing recipe to try for a dinner party this time of year – such a show stopper! And the flavours sound incredible too :)
Hana says
November 11, 2016 at 3:21 pmThank you so much Gabriella for this lovely comment! Hope you like it if you get to make it:)
Sasha @ Eat Love Eat says
November 11, 2016 at 2:30 pmWhat adorable little squash! Such gorgeous colours in this recipe Hana and it sounds delicious too! It’s definitely an acceptable time of year to get into the Christmas spirit I think :) xx
Hana says
November 11, 2016 at 7:50 pmThank you so much Sasha! I usually only start thinking all things Christmas two weeks before the actual date, but now having a blog I have a good reason to be organized and jump in early:) xx
Michelle @ The Last Food Blog says
November 11, 2016 at 8:53 pmThis is such a lovely festive recipe Hana, gorgeous photos too! The squash sounds and looks very tasty, lovely post Hana xxx
Hana says
November 14, 2016 at 8:04 pmThank you so much Michelle for stopping by and leaving such lovely comment! xxx
Jan says
November 16, 2016 at 9:51 pmI’ve never been successful in roasting squash seeds in their outer casing, they are just fibrous and not crunchy
Hana says
November 17, 2016 at 11:16 amHi Jan, mine got eventually crunchy, I kept them in the oven until they were crispy enough, just before they started turning brown.
Priscilla says
November 27, 2017 at 3:09 amCan this be made in advance? Is so how long in advance? Thanks so much!
Anna says
November 20, 2016 at 12:31 pmCould they be any prettier? I love the festive feeling I get just by looking at them! :) Beautiful photos and what a yummy recipe!
Hana says
November 20, 2016 at 4:33 pmThank you so much Anna! You’re so right, these squashes were way too pretty! Makes it so much easier creating a recipe:) x
Andi Kunkel says
October 24, 2017 at 3:15 pmWhat are Aduki beans? Could I substitute or leave them out? Thanks in advance.
Andi k
Hana says
November 5, 2017 at 10:28 pmHi Andi, they are small red beans, sometimes also called adzuki. You can definitely leave them out or substitute them with chickpeas.
Priscilla says
November 27, 2017 at 3:06 amCan this be made in advance? Is so how long in advance? Thanks so much!
Hana says
November 27, 2017 at 9:35 pmHi Priscilla, I find that they taste the best freshly made and eaten right away. But you could certainly make them one day in advance and re-heat them in the oven before serving.
Christine says
November 17, 2018 at 12:03 amCan this be made with “pork” like beyond burger sausage? If so, what spices and augmentations do you recommend?
Hana says
November 17, 2018 at 8:07 pmHi Christine, do you mean a vegan style mince mix? If so, you could use fresh sage, rosemary and thyme for seasoning. It would go lovely with the squash.
Cristina says
December 6, 2018 at 2:38 pmYour photos and recipes are beautiful.
Hana says
December 9, 2018 at 10:10 pmThank you so much Cristina.