Garam Masala Baked Acorn Squash – Stuffed With Cranberry Rice

Vegan Stuffed Acorn Squash With Cranberry Rice & Garam Masala

Oh acorn squash – how I thought you were disgusting when I was a child, and, now I know what it takes to make you delicious!

Many adults aren’t squash fans, probably because their family didn’t serve it very well.  This recipe can change all that.

Healthy Vegan Baked Acorn Squash – No-Oil, Whole-Foods Plant-Based

Most people don’t know how to stuff vegetables, do they?   The ones I know anyways, are wowed when presented with a flavourful rice filled acorn squash.

No need to be impressed folks, because this stuffed acorn squash recipe is a dead easy meal to make.

Downright relaxing for the cook actually.

Roasted With Wild Rice, Dried Cranberries, Garam Masala, Spinach and Black Beans

This whole-foods plant-based (wpb) oil-free roasted and stuffed acorn squash is extra deliciously complex, because the whole grain wild rice (any nice healthy whole grain rice should do) has extra scrumptious dried cranberry bits in it, plus the east Indian dessert pepper spice Garam Masala.

You can buy Garam Masala in the ethnic section of your grocery store.  I have a large bag of it, it goes nicely with fruit as well, like apple slices before bed, or on oatmeal.

Garam masala, cranberries, and acorn squash are a great combo.  Very romantic.

Plus, I’ve stirred some spinach ribbons, and optionally black beans, through this sticky sweet, spicy, rice, making things very much more interesting.

Can You Eat the Skin of Acorn Squash?

I looked it up and people said that the skin of acorn squash is edible if cooked long enough, so I announced this to my family, when serving them, they promptly all said “no thanks”.

Then I proceeded to try some of the skin on my squash, spit it out, and declared it was much too tough.

“Told you so” my husband said.

I would not encourage others to enjoy eating the skin.

Do enjoy the rest though. 🙂

FODMAP rating – without the black beans this recipe is Low FODMAP.  With the black beans, be sure to used canned, eat 1/4 cup or less of the canned beans and it is moderate FODMAP.

Garam Masala Baked Acorn Squash - Stuffed With Cranberry Rice

Jeanette

Stuffed acorn squash presents well at any family gathering or dinner party, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.  The warm, peppery and sweet seasonings pair perfectly with fall and winter weather.

I can't over-emphasize how easy this dish is to make, but makes you look like a fairly accomplished cook.  As long as you have time to cook rice, it will come together 5 minutes after the rice is done.

This vegan no-fat version has dried cranberries, rice, spinach and optionally black beans, so it can easily serve as your entire meal.  

No ratings yet

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine Indian, Western

Servings 4 people

Calories 568 kcal

Instructions and Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

• 2 cups wild rice or other healthy whole grains, like short grain brown rice, brown basmati rice, or quinoa
• 4 cups water or as per rice package instructions
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 tsp garam masala
• 1 cup dried cranberries I use Craisins (sweetened)
• 2 acorn squash small, or 1 large, washed and halved
• 5 cups spinach finely chopped
• 398 ml black beans, can small can, optional - if you are serving as a meal rather than a side dish

• Preheat oven to 400F
  
• Add rice, water, salt, garam masala and cranberries to a pot on high heat.  Bring to a boil, immediately reduce to low simmer, and cook for 45 minutes, or as per rice package instructions.  Check and stir often, to prevent the cranberries from burning.   If the rice is not soft once the water is gone, add more water and cook longer.  The dried cranberries can absorb liquid the rice needs.
  
• Break stem off acorn squashes (if there is one).  Cut in halves.  Scoop out the seeds and strings.  Sprinkle with pepper and salt, place cut side down on a baking sheet and bake for 30 - 45 minutes (timing will depend on the size of the squash).    
  
• Once the rice is done, turn off the heat.  Stir chopped spinach into the rice so it 'melts'.
  
• If using, drain and rinse black beans, add to rice mixture.  Let sit for a few minutes to warm the beans.
  
• Once done, remove acorn squash from the oven.  The squash should be soft all the way through.
  
• Spoon spinach, black bean, cranberry, rice mixture into squash, you should be able to pile it quite high, serve warm.
  

Notes

Omit the black beans to make this recipe a side dish. 

Goes well with lentil loaf at holidays.

Cut large squash into quarters before serving.

 

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Garam Masala Baked Acorn Squash - Stuffed With Cranberry Rice

Amount Per Serving (1 / 4th of recipe)

Calories 568 Calories from Fat 18

% Daily Value*

Fat 2g3%

Sodium 727mg32%

Potassium 1617mg46%

Carbohydrates 125g42%

Fiber 18g75%

Sugar 21g23%

Protein 20g40%

Vitamin A 4325IU87%

Vitamin C 37mg45%

Calcium 170mg17%

Iron 6.1mg34%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Tried this recipe?Mention @veganenvy or tag #veganenvy!

JOIN the VeganEnvy.com Community 

Click here to EXPLORE

People Exploring Plant Based Eating

Adding Healthy Plant Based Meals to Your Menu is Easy!

Help others learn – share on social media!