Vegetarian Stuffed Delicata Squash With Lentils
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This Vegetarian Stuffed Delicata Squash recipe is quick and easy to make! It’s the perfect dinner for the fall or early winter when you need to get dinner on the table fast.
These Squash Boats make a beautiful Thanksgiving side dish or can even be served as a main dish! I also love these Green Bean Bundles With Brie Cheese and Cranberry Jam and Crispy Oven-Roasted Green Beans With Slivered Almonds to serve at Thanksgiving or any holiday dinner party.
*This post was originally published on November 1, 2022 and updated on November 14, 2023.
Delicata Squash Boats
This Vegetarian Stuffed Delicata Squash has become a staple dinner recipe in our house and it was all inspired by my mama.
My mom is a fantastic cook. Whenever she invites us over for dinner, I purposely don’t ask what she is cooking for dinner, not only because it’s rude to ask (except she is my mom, so it wouldn’t be that rude), but mostly because I love being surprised by her creations. Especially because she so graciously comes up with a whole separate vegetarian meal for me every time.
I had just introduced my mom to my favorite squash, the delicata squash. Her first time cooking with it, she invited us over for dinner. My palette was more than thrilled by her creative vegetarian creation.
She had roasted a delicata squash and filled it with a little mixture of lentils, wild rice, and feta so that they made little squash boats. Creative and so cute and they turned out delicious! I knew I had to try to recreate them at home, however, life happened.
I got distracted and forgot about it. Meanwhile, my mom forgot the recipe…
This recipe is my attempt at recreating my mom’s recipe and also adding my own flare to it! I hope it makes its way onto your Thanksgiving table, especially if you need a vegetarian Thanksgiving dish for your guests!
Why You’ll Love This Vegetarian Stuffed Delicata Squash Recipe
- Quick. This roasted delicata squash recipe clocks out at 30 minutes! If you’re cooking this for Thanksgiving dinner, it will be a nice, quick dish on a busy day of cooking.
- Easy. The stuffed squash is very simple and easy to prepare. The stuffing is also very easy to prepare and is made while the delicata squash is roasting.
- Flavorful. This dish is bursting with flavor and is hard to stop eating!
Vegetarian STUFFED DELICATA SQUASH INGREDIENTS
- Delicata squash. Did you know you can eat the skin of delicata squash? It’s a sweet, creamy squash that is high in fiber, potassium, and Vitamin C and B6.
- Farro. A delicious and hearty ancient grain, this makes the stuffing filling and gives it a nutty flavor. You can replace the farro with quinoa, brown rice, or wild rice to make it gluten-free.
- Green lentils. Lentils provide some plant-based protein for this vegetarian dish! I like to use pre-cooked lentils to speed up the recipe. I use pre-cooked lentils from Trader Joe’s (these are not gluten-free, in case you are needing a gluten-free recipe)!
- Green onion or leeks. You can use either green onions or leeks for this recipe and they both give it a little pop.
- Feta. The feta provides a lovely tangy flavor to the delicata squash stuffing. You can easily make this a vegan recipe by omitting the feta cheese or using a vegan feta though!
- Raisins. These add a subtle sweetness to the dish. Easily replace these with dried cranberries.
- Curry powder. The curry powder adds a unique, subtle, and earthy flavor to the delicata squash.
- Lemon juice. The lemon juice adds a little zing to the stuffing.
- Olive oil. Used to roast the delicata squash and as a dressing for the stuffing.
How to Make Stuffed Delicata Squash Boats
STEP 1 – Prepare the delicata squash
Slice the top off of the delicata squash and then cut them in half. Use a spoon to scoop out all of the squash seeds on the inside of the squash.
Place the delicata squash face up on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Season each with a little salt, pepper, and ½ teaspoon of curry powder.
STEP 2 – Bake
Flip the squash halves over and roast in the oven for 20 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit or until a fork can easily pierce through the skin.
STEP 3 – Prepare the stuffing mixture
While the delicata squash are roasting, prepare the stuffing mixture. Combine the cooked farro, cooked lentils, feta, green onion, raisins, lemon juice, and ¼ cup olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste.
STEP 4 – Stuff the delicata
When the delicata squash are finished roasting, carefully flip them over. Scoop the stuffing mixture into the centers of each delicata squash and serve.
Stuffed Delicata Squash FAQ
You can easily make this delicata squash recipe vegan by simply omitting the feta cheese or replacing it with vegan feta cheese! The flavor will still be amazing without the feta!
No. Because the recipe contains farro, it is not gluten-free. If you want to make this recipe gluten-free, you can replace the farro with brown rice, wild rice, or quinoa. Also, be sure that the lentils you use are gluten-free.
You don’t have to add the curry powder! You’ll still find that wonderful flavors come out!
Yes! The skin of a delicata squash is edible, so you can eat the entire squash boat!
You sure can! I think the stuffing would be delicious with dried cranberries or pomegranate seeds as a replacement.
No problem. You can replace the lemon juice with white or red wine vinegar. I would start with 1 tablespoon and taste-test it. Add more if needed.
What to Serve with this Squash Dish
- Quesadillas
- A warm rustic bread loaf
- A quick side salad
How to Customize This Recipe for Kids
If eating this dish as is, is not something your child will go for, then you and I have something in common! My kids wouldn’t go for it either.
What I do for my own kids is deconstruct the meal (meaning, serve the ingredients separately). This way you don’t have to create an entirely new meal for them. Here’s how you can do this:
- Reserve some of the lentils and farro before they’re mixed together and place them on your child’s plate
- When the delicata squash is done roasting, slice a few pieces to add to your child’s plate.
- Add something like quesadillas or another option that is a “safe” food/something they like to their plate
MORE Delicious Side Dishes
Crispy Oven-Roasted Green Beans With Slivered Almonds
Green Bean Bundles With Brie Cheese and Cranberry Jam
Tomato Basil Tart With Greek Yogurt
Fall Lentil Farro Salad With Pomegranate
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Vegetarian Stuffed Delicata Squash With Lentils
Ingredients
- 2 delicata squash
- ¼ cup olive oil + 1 tablespoon to drizzle on delicata squash
- 1 teaspoon curry powder
- 1 cup cooked farro, (or sub quinoa, brown rice, or wild rice)
- 1 cup cooked green lentils, (I like to use the precooked lentils from Trader Joe's)
- ½ cup feta cheese
- 2 green onions , diced(or sub ½ cup diced leeks)
- ½ cup raisins
- ½ lemon, juiced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Slice the top off of each delicata squash and then cut them in half. Use a spoon to scoop out all of the squash seeds on the inside of the squash.
- Place the delicata squash face up on a baking sheet and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Season each with a little salt, pepper, and ½ teaspoon of curry powder.
- Flip the squash halves over and roast in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until a fork can easily pierce through the skin.
- While the delicata squash are roasting, prepare the stuffing mixture by combining the cooked farro, cooked lentils, feta, green onion, raisins, lemon juice, and ¼ cup olive oil in a large mixing bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- When the delicata squash are finished roasting, carefully flip them over. Scoop the stuffing mixture into the centers of each delicata squash and serve.