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+ servings
roast, stuffed kabocha squash for an elegant, vegetarian meal

Vegetarian Roasted, Stuffed Kabocha Squash

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This stuffed squash recipe is full of great winter flavor and has a presentation that will "wow." It's a vegetarian dish meat lovers can appreciate. 
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Dish Type Casserole
Cooking Style vegan, Vegetarian
Diet and Health healthy-ish
Seasonal autumn, Christmas, Halloween, New Year's Eve, Thanksgiving, winter
Ingredient kabocha squash
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 55 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings 6 -8 servings
Calories 256
Author Amy Reiley

Ingredients

  • 4-5 lb (medium size) Kabocha squash substitute with a pumpkin of similar weight
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small onion finely chopped
  • 1 celery rib finely chopped
  • 8 oz kabocha or butternut squash cut into 1/2-inch cubes (this is in addition to the whole squash)
  • 2 vegan Italian-style sausages halved lengthwise then sliced into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 small Granny Smith apple cored and diced
  • 2/3 cup shredded kale (about 3 large leaves ribs removed)
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 2 slices sprouted rye bread cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
  • 2 leaves fresh sage finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp fresh rosemary finely chopped
  • pinch smoked salt

Instructions

  • Preheat a convection oven to 350 degrees.*
  • Line a sturdy baking sheet with parchment.
  • Using a strong knife, cut the cap off of the squash (as you would a Jack-o-Lantern).
  • Clean the kabocha squash or pumpkin of seeds and string.
  • Heat the olive oil in a sauté pan. Add the onions and sauté for 1 minute.
  • Add the celery, kale, cubes of squash and a pinch of salt. Saute for 6 minutes or until the squash begins to soften.
  • Add the apple and sausage continue to sauté for 2 minutes.
  • Add the white wine and cook for an additional minute.
  • Remove from heat and toss in bread, thyme, sage and rosemary. Season with additional salt to taste. (Keep in mind that you will want the mixture fairly salty to help season the flesh of the squash or pumpkin.)
  • Stuff the kabocha squash with the stuffing mixture, being careful not to overstuff. (You may have some stuffing left over.) Top stuffed squash with the cap.
  • Transfer squash to parchment-lined baking sheet and cook for 1 1/4 hour. Remove the cap and continue to cook for an additional 15-30 minutes, until flesh of the kabocha squash is soft and easily pierced with the tip of a knife.
  • To serve, either slice wedges from the squash like a pie or scoop out servings, being careful to scoop out the kabocha or pumpkin’s fresh with the stuffing. The kabocha squash should have a creamy texture when it is fully cooked.

Notes

*To make this recipe in a conventional oven (not a convection oven), preheat to 375 degrees and increase the cooking time to 1 hour and 35 minutes before removing the cap and cooking for 18-35 minutes longer, checking for doneness by piercing the squash with the tip of a knife as written above. 

A note on the provided nutrition information

The nutrition information provided has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator and is not a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Nutrition

Calories: 256kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 234mg | Potassium: 1354mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 5439IU | Vitamin C: 52mg | Calcium: 125mg | Iron: 9mg