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Mushroom & Spinach Stuffed Gem Squash

Prep Time45 minutes
Cook Time55 minutes
Total Time1 hour 40 minutes
Servings: 2 people

Ingredients

  • 4 Gem Squash
  • 60 g red or wholemeal rice
  • 100 g fresh spinach washed
  • 200 g chestnut mushrooms cut into quarters or eighths depending on size
  • 1 small onion finely chopped
  • 100 g cherry tomatoes or the same of sun blush tomatoes oil drained
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 14 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 tsp sweet paprika
  • 80 g feta cheese
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp coriander
  • 3 tables olive oil
  • 2 Tbls pomegranate seeds. optional
  • 2 tbls chopped flat leaf parsley
  • 1/2 lemon zest of
  • 1/2 clove garlic minced
  • 4 Tbls olive oil

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 150C fan and have a baking sheet ready. If you’re baking the tomatoes, cut the tomatoes in half and place on the baking tray and sprinkle with salt. Bake for 35-40 minutes. Set to one side.
  • Increase the oven temperature to 180Cfan.
  • To prepare the squash, use a sharp chef’s knife to cut the tops off. Use a large spoon to scoop out the seeds and stringy bits inside, discard.
  • Place the squash with the lids on the baking tray. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in the squash, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Put the lids on the squash. Bake until the flesh is easily pierced through with a fork, about 35 to 40 minutes. leave the oven on.
  • To prepare the filling: Cook the rice according to the packet instructions, set to one side. In a medium saucepan heat the olive oil. Add the chopped onion and garlic, saute until translucent. Add the spices, stir and cook for a minute or two. Add the mushrooms and cook for 3-5 minutes. Now add the washed spinach and stir, increase the heat a little. Stir to wilt the leaves and cook to remove any excess moisture. Season with salt and pepper and remove from the heat. Pour the filling into a bowl and add the rice and stir to incorporate.
  • Once the squash have cooled a little, scoop out SOME of the flesh. Stir the scooped out flesh into the filling with 50g of the feta and the tomatoes.
  • Stuff the squash, pushing as much filling as you possibly can into each one. topmwith the lids
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes. Remove from the oven. Combine the parsley, lemon zest, garlic and a little sea salt and black pepper. Sprinkle the remain feta on the squash with the pomegranate seeds. Drizzle with the herb oil serve,