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Butternut squash with walnut, apricots and cranberries

Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time55 minutes
Servings: 2 people

Ingredients

  • 1 medium butternut squash
  • 1 small red onion finely diced
  • 1 large clove garlic minced
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1/3 cup water or vegetable broth
  • 20 g dried cranberries
  • 20 g dried apricots chopped
  • ¼ cup walnuts broken into small chunks
  • 1 heaped tbsp chopped fresh sage
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
  • A generous pinch sea salt
  • A generous crack black pepper

For the walnut crumb topping (optional)

  • 1/3 cup walnuts
  • 1/3 cup gluten free oats
  • 2 tsps coconut oil
  • 1 heaped tsp dried sage
  • A generous pinch sea salt
  • A generous crack black pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 200 degrees conventional or 180 degrees for fan assisted
  • Cut the squash lengthwise and place face down on a shallow roasting tray. Roast for 35 minutes or until tender.
  • While the squash is cooking you can make the walnut crumb. Add the walnuts and oats to a food processor and pulse until broken down to a large crumb consistency.
  • Transfer to a bowl and add the dried sage and season with salt and pepper.
  • Add the coconut oil and rub the oats and walnuts into the oil with your fingertips to form a crumble consistency. Reserve to one side.
  • When the squash is tender, remove from the oven and turn over, allow to cool slightly. Leave the oven on.
  • While the squash cools, you can start to prepare the stuffing. Add the onion to a large frying pan with the coconut oil over a medium heat and cook until soft – around 2-3 minutes.
  • Add the garlic, sage and rosemary to the pan and continue to cook for a further 2-3 minutes to soften the garlic.
  • While the garlic cooks, scoop out some of the flesh from the 'neck' of the squash halves. You want a generous cupful in total.
  • Add the squash flesh to the pan with the onion, garlic and herbs and break down with a spoon.
  • Add the broth/water to the pan along with the cranberries and apricots.
  • Season generously with salt and pepper and stir well to combine.
  • Allow the mixture to continue cooking until all the liquid has evaporated.
  • Remove from the heat and stir through the walnut chunks.
  • Dividing the mixture equally, spoon the stuffing back into the squash halves.
  • Sprinkle the walnut crumb topping over the stuffed squash and return to the oven to bake for a further 10-12 minutes until the squash is soft through and piping hot, and the crumble is turning golden brown.

Notes

This delicious recipe is not only vegan but nutritious, anti-inflammatory and gluten free.  It goes perfectly served with braised red cabbage or a simple green salad.