Description

The creamy garlic herb umami of pesto tossed with a chewy farro (or grain of choice), cauliflower, sweet peppers, spinach and cheese, stuffed into a sweet roasted butternut squash, this dish is not only budget friendly, it’s beautiful, comforting, satisfying and healthy.

Ingredients

Scale

1 medium butternut squash (or other squash)
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
1/2 teaspoon no-salt seasoning blend such as Trader Joe’s 21 Seasoning Salute
3 mini sweet peppers, seeded and chopped (or 1/2 of a bell pepper)
1 cup cauliflower, cut into small florets
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 – 1 1/2 cups cooked farro (or other grain such as barley or rice)
2 – 3 Tablespoons pesto
1/2 cup frozen chopped spinach, thawed
About 2 oz. shredded Parmesan, Romano or Asiago cheese

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 F. Cut the squash lengthwise in half and scoop out the seeds and stringy part with a grapefruit spoon.
In a small bowl, mix together the olive oil with garlic and seasoning. Brush the inside of the squash lightly with the oil and sprinkle with salt & pepper. Set the squash, cut side down, on a baking sheet lined with silicon baking mat (or oiled).
Toss the peppers, cauliflower and onion with the rest of the seasoned oil. Set them on a separate small baking sheet lined with silicon baking mat (or oiled). Put both sheets in the oven and roast for 20 – 40 minutes, until tender. The cauliflower mixture might be done ahead of the squash. Take it out when it’s done.
While the veggies are roasting, cook the farro (or grain of choice). Toss with pesto and spinach, adding a bit of the cooking water if needed to coat the farro with pesto.
Once the veggies are done, mix the pesto coated farro with the roasted cauliflower mixture and the shredded cheese. If there’s not much space in the squash to hold all the filling, scoop out some of the squash, chop and add to the filling.
Sprinkle with extra shredded cheese (if desired) and serve while hot. Can also be refrigerated in an airtight container and reheated.

Notes

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Keywords: Stuffed, Butternut, Squash, Vegetarian, Pantry, Heart healthy