Were you thinking of making Acorn Squash tonight? Maybe you weren’t, maybe you were thinking of making Raw Strawberry Ice cream or No Bake Key Lime Coconut Bars. Although those sound pretty darn good, I can assure you that Italian Acorn Squash will probably be better for you than those sweet treats, at least as far as dinner goes. Dessert on the other hand, now that’s a different story, because those Key Lime bars are better for you than the typical sugar loaded ones.
When most people think of Acorn Squash, they are familiar with the baked, brown sugar loaded Acorn squash. Where as we all don’t need the extra calories the brown sugar adds or the spike in blood sugar it causes, let’s do something different. Leave the sugar in the baking cupboard and get out your carrots and zucchini.
As the weather begins to cool down and we are cooking less on the grill and don’t mind heating up the oven, squash becomes a popular go to for a main or side dish. Roasted Spaghetti Squash and Herbs is a meal in itself, a one pot meal and another great alternative to our other high carbohydrate dishes too. Italian Acorn squash is grain free and vegan, which means it fits into all kinds of diets or lifestyles.
Acorn Squash are tremendously high in Vitamin C and have a fair share of A, B6 and E. Better for you than a potato or even a yam, sad but true. Another good source of potassium and magnesium, the Acorn squash is something you should consider making instead of perhaps that baked potato or garlic mashed potatoes as good as they sound. I know I’m spoiling all your fun, no to dessert for dinner, no to potatoes, what’s next? Clean eating doesn’t have to be dull, this Italian Acorn Squash is far from boring, the flavor blows boring old baked potatoes away. Serve as a side dish or as a Vegan dinner, either way it’s a recipe you will want to make when friends come over or for meatless monday.
Ingredients
- 1 Acorn squash, cut lengthwise, seeds removed.
- 2/3 cup Carrots finely grated
- 2/3 cup zucchini grated and drained
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1/2 red pepper, chopped small
- 1 small shallot grated
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 cup fresh baby spinach
- 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/4 Teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 Teaspoon ground pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Fill glass baking dish with 1 inch water.
- Brush inside of acorn squash with olive oil.
- In skillet briefly saute the carrots,zucchini,red peppers and garlic about 3-5 minutes.
- Drain and place in medium bowl.
- Add remaining ingredients, stir and scoop into acorn halves.
- Bake uncovered for 45-55 minutes, cover towards end if necessary.
Tags: Grain Free vegan

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