Stuffed Butternut Squash

Chef: Magic
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 60 mins
Stuffed Butternut Squash

100g pearl barley

1 large butternut squash (about 1.5kg)

4 tbsp olive oil

Salt and pepper

1 red onion, finely chopped

½ a leek, finely chopped

100g chestnut mushrooms, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 tbsp pine nuts

1 tbsp flaked almonds

1 tsp paprika

¼ tsp ground nutmeg

1 tbsp fresh thyme, leaves chopped

30g apricots, chopped

Zest of 1 lemon

For the tahini sauce

2 tbsp tahini

1 lemon, juiced

1 tbsp honey

small bunch parsley, chopped

Cook the pearl barley according to package instructions, drain and set aside to cool.

Cut the squash in half lengthways. Scoop out the seeds from both halves and discard them. Continue to scrape out the centre of the squash, to make room for the stuffing.

Score the flesh of the 2 squash halves in a criss-cross pattern, trying not to pierce the skin, rub with 1 tablespoon oil and season.

Heat oven to 180˚C, 160˚C fan, gas mark 4.

In a frying pan, heat 2 tablespoons of oil and fry the onion, leek and mushrooms for 5-8 minutes until soft. Stir in the garlic and cook for another minute. 

Add the pearl barley, nuts, spices, thyme, dried fruit and lemon zest. Season and cook for 1-2 minutes.

Spoon the filling into the cavities of the squash halves, keep any leftover stuffing.

Secure the halves together with kitchen twine good and tight as the squash will shrink a little as it cooks.

Rub the outside with the remaining oil and season well.

Add the squash to the Magic Chicken Roasting Bag, secure the bag with a nylon tie and place the bag on a tray.

Before cooking, trim any excess bag. Use a scissors to make slits in the top of the bag.

Cook for 45 minutes- 1 hour or until pierced with a knife there is a little resistance and the flesh feels soft.

Cut the bag open and carefully lift the squash onto a serving plate/platter.

For the sauce, mix the tahini, lemon juice, honey and 1-2 teaspoons of water to make a dressing.

In a pan, warm any leftover stuffing.

Carve the butternut squash. Serve with mixed leaf salad, tahini sauce and extra stuffing. 

Serves
6-8

Preparation Time
20 minutes

Cooking Time
60 minutes

Main ingredients
Vegetables

Recipe Type
Entertaining, Family Dinners, Healthy, Vegetarian

Special Info
Vegetarian

Level of Difficulty
Medium

 
To serve:
Mixed leaf salad
 
 

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