Sausage & Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash

A fun and flavorful dish!

Serves: 4, Prep Time: 15 minutes, Total Time: 1 hour.

Ingredients

• 2 acorn squash (trimmed and sliced in half)

• 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil (divided)

• 1 tbs. raw honey

• 1 tsp. cinnamon

• 1 cup quinoa (uncooked)

• 1 ½ cups water

• 10 oz. chicken sausage (no sugar added)

• 1 yellow onion

• 1 garlic (clove, minced)

• 4 cups baby spinach

• 1 tbs. rosemary

• ½ tsp. nutmeg (ground)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.

2. Slice the tips off of your acorn squash so that it will sit flat. Then cut the squash in half and carve out the seeds. Brush the inside of each squash with olive oil. Then brush the inside of each squash with honey. Sprinkle each squash with cinnamon. Place the squash on a baking sheet, flesh side up and pop them in the oven. Roast for 30 minutes or until tender when pierced with a fork.

3. Meanwhile, cook your quinoa by combining quinoa and water in a saucepan. Place over high heat and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer. Cover and let simmer for 12 to 15 minutes or until water is absorbed. Remove lid, fluff with a fork and set aside.

4. Heat your remaining olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Remove the casing from the sausage and add the meat to the skillet. Add the onions and sauce until sausage is cooked through. Add the minced garlic and sauce for another minute. Add spinach, rosemary and nutmeg. Sauce just until spinach is wilted. Remove from heat then stir in the quinoa. Mix well.

Chef's Tip: Vegan and Budget-Friendly: Skip the sausage and use 1 can of chickpeas, lentils or beans instead.