Yield: 6

Winter squash with rice, cranberries, and pecans...

Img 7798

Ingredients

  • 1 cup wild rice blend, such as Lundberg
  • 1 1/2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, divided
  • 1 cup water
  • 8 carnival squash, 1 pound each or 16 small sweet dumpling squash or pumpkins (1/2 pound each) or a combination
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra
  • 1 1/2 cups finely chopped leeks, about 8 slender leeks (white part only)
  • 1 teaspoon dried rubbed sage
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves
  • 3/4 cup dried cranberries
  • 1 cup dried, cranberries
  • 1 cup chopped, pecans
  • 3-4 ounces goat cheese

Instructions

  1. In a medium saucepan, combine rice with 1 cup broth and 1 cup water.
  2. Bring to a boil, stir, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 35 minutes, until just al dente. Remove from heat.
  3. Preheat oven to 425°. Cut off top ½ inch of squash; reserve tops.
  4. Trim bottoms if necessary to sit level. Scoop out seeds and strings.
  5. Brush insides with olive oil.
  6. Sprinkle with coarse salt and ground pepper.
  7. Place squash, cut side down, on a baking sheet.
  8. Roast until barely tender, about 20 minutes for small squash, 25 minutes for medium squash.
  9. Meanwhile, place 1 tablespoon oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat.
  10. Add leeks and cook until tender but not brown, 5–7 minutes.
  11. Add sage and thyme, season with salt and pepper, and stir to coat.
  12. Add 3 cups cooked rice (save remainder for another use) and remaining ½ cup broth; simmer until heated through and liquid is absorbed, 4–5 minutes.
  13. Remove from heat; stir in cranberries, pecans, and goat cheese. Taste, and adjust seasoning.
  14. Spoon rice mixture into each squash and drizzle remaining oil over top. Replace squash tops. Arrange squash in a roasting pan.
  15. Reduce oven temperature to 375°. Bake squash for 20 minutes; then remove tops and continue to bake until heated through, about 10 minutes more.
  16. Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes. Replace tops and transfer squash to a serving platter.