Moroccan Chickpea-Stuffed Acorn Squash
2
Points®
Total time: 1 hr 5 min • Prep: 15 min • Cook: 50 min • Serves: 6 • Difficulty: Easy
Here’s a super side dish with a Moroccan twist for roasted poultry, beef, pork or lamb. The acorn squash is stuffed with a sautéed and spiced mix of onions and chickpeas that gets an added dose of sweetness and crunch, respectively, from raisins and sliced, toasted almonds. Acorn squash has a buttery texture and sweet, orange-yellow flesh. When selecting acorn squash, look for ones that are heavy for their size with a firm skin that is free of blemishes or soft spots. To help prevent the squash from tipping over once filled, cut a small sliver off the round bottom of each half so it sits level on the pan. Garnish with fresh lemon zest, if desired.
Ingredients
Cooking spray
4 spray(s)
Uncooked acorn squash
3 medium
Olive oil
2 tsp
Uncooked onion
1 medium, chopped (1 ½ cups)
Garlic
2 tsp, minced
Ground cumin
¾ tsp, divided
Table salt
½ tsp, divided
Ground cinnamon
⅛ tsp
Canned chickpeas
15 oz, rinsed and drained
Raisins
¼ cup(s), chopped
Cilantro
¼ cup(s), chopped
Fresh lemon juice
2 tsp
Sliced almonds (unsalted, no oil or sugar added)
2 Tbsp, toasted
Instructions
1
Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat baking sheet with nonstick spray. Slice squash in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds. Arrange squash, cut- side down, on prepared pan and bake until tender, 45 to 50 minutes.
2
Meanwhile, in large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until golden, 7 to 8 minutes.
3
Stir in garlic, 1⁄2 tsp cumin, 1⁄4 tsp salt, and cinnamon and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in chickpeas, raisins, and 1⁄4 cup water and cook, stirring, until chickpeas are heated through and raisins are soft, about 2 minutes.
4
Turn squash cut-side up and sprinkle with remaining 1⁄4 tsp cumin and 1⁄4 tsp salt.
5
Stir cilantro and lemon juice into chickpea stuffing and divide among squash halves. Sprinkle each with 1 tsp almonds. Serve hot.
6
Serving size: 1 squash half with filling
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