Serena Poon, CN, CHC, CHN is a leading chef, nutritionist and reiki master to the Hollywood elite. The never-ending passion and career for curating healing and wellness programs using integrative health, holistic nutrition and Culinary Alchemy® began long before she started creating contemporary meals, menus and nutritional goodness for the likes of Jerry Bruckheimer, Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, and Kerry Washington.
Women Fitness is Here with Top 5 Favourite
Roasted Stuffed Butternut Squash With Tri-Coloured Quinoa, Kale, Chickpeas, Toasted Pine Nuts And Pomegranate Seeds
Butternut Squash is one of Serena’s favorite foods because of its health benefits, its sweet & nutty taste, and its versatility in the kitchen. She includes them in her breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and even dessert sometimes!
This recipe is absolutely delicious! It is more time consuming than some, but worth every minute! “I recommend making this the next time you have friends or family over – they will be so impressed with the aesthetic and taste of the dish!” shares Celebrity Chef Serena Poon.
DETAILS
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 75 min
Total: 85 min
Servings: 4
INGREDIENTS
(please use organic ingredients whenever possible)
- 2 ea medium butternut squash, halved, seeds removed
- 4 tsp avocado oil
- 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 C tri-colored quinoa (any other quinoa is fine too)
- 1 1/3 C vegetable broth, homemade or low sodium
- 1 bunch curly kale, stems removed, leaves rough chopped
- 2 ea fresh thyme sprigs
- ½ tsp pink Himalayan salt or sea salt, to taste
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- ¼ tsp fresh ground white pepper, to taste (optional)
- 15 oz cooked chickpeas (if using canned or bottled, rinse and drain)
- 1 ea medium orange, zested
- ½ each juice of half of the zested orange above
- 1/3 C fresh pomegranate seeds
- ¼ C pine nuts (raw or toasted, optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Pre-heat oven to 425F, place rack in the middle of the oven
- Arrange the butternut squash halves, cut side up on an unlined sheet pan
- Drizzle and spread 1 tsp of avocado oil on each of the 4 cut halves of butternut squash, light salt and pepper each half
- Bake uncovered for 55-60minutes, or until fork tender.
- While the butternut squash is baking, use a fine mesh sieve to thoroughly rinse the quinoa under cold water until the water runs clear.
- Place the quinoa in a medium saucepan with the broth and bring to fast simmer.
- Cover the saucepan with the quinoa with a tight-fitting lid and reduce heat to maintain a low simmer. Cook for 15 minutes.
- Removed the quinoa from heat (keeping covered with the lid) and allow to sit and steam for another 3 minutes. Remove lid and fluff with a fork.
- Using a large skillet, 1 tsp of extra virgin olive oil over medium heat.
- Add to the skillet the torn kale leaves and cook until just slightly wilted, about 2-3 minutes and reduce heat to medium low.
- Add to the kale the thyme sprigs, salt and pepper, to taste. Heat until slightly fragrant. Remove thyme stems.
- Add to the skillet the chickpeas, the cooked quinoa, squeeze juice from the half orange, and add the orange zest. Remove from heat.
- Once butternut squash is fork tender and slight caramelized on the edges, remove from the oven and allow to cool (while still on the pan).
- Using heat protective gloves, scoop out the flesh of the butternut squash, leaving about a 1/2-inch border around the sides. Reserve this for a later use.
- Add the pomegranate seeds and pine nuts to the kale and quinoa mixture and toss to combine. Ready for filling!
- Stuff the butternut squash halves with a heaping amount of the kale and quinoa mixture. Ready to serve! (Reserve any extra stuffing for later use for a buddha bowl)
ALTERNATIVES
- Can use acorn squash instead of butternut squash
- Can use cranberries instead of pomegranate seeds. In this case, add cranberries to the stuffing when adding the quinoa to the kale.
- Can use other nuts instead of pine nuts: chopping toasted hazelnuts, chopped pecans, toasted almond slivers.
- Can add vegan parmesan to the top of the stuffing and warm in the oven for 5 minutes before service.
Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
