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    Home / Recipes / Entrees

    Vegetarian Stuffed Butternut Squash with Mushrooms, Millet, and Kale Pesto

    Published Nov 1, 2013

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    With cheesy millet, mushrooms, herbs, and a kicky kale pesto all topped with crunchy pepitas, this vegetarian stuffed butternut squash makes a nourishing main dish or festive side. 

     Vegetarian Stuffed Butternut Squash with Mushrooms, Millet, and Kale Pesto o baking tray

    The other day, my mom was telling me about Chopped, the Iron Chef-like television show in which contestants are given a basket of unlikely ingredients from which they must compose a three-course meal in a matter of minutes.

    dry millet

    I've long admired the type of cook who can look in the fridge, pull out half an onion, a bottle of ketchup, and a piece of stale bread, and use them to whip up a four-star meal in ten minutes.

    top down shot of ingredients

    I am not like that.

    squash halves

    If I were, through some cruel act of nature, to go on Chopped, it would look something like this:

    Receive ingredients. Compulsively page through cookbooks while eating cheesy toast as a hysterical displacement activity in response to crippling indecision over what to make. Settle on overly-complicated dishes that each take five hours and 40 ingredients to make. Make dishes while drinking copious amounts of wine to counter hideous anxiety of being on the clock. Collapse into exhausted heap at 5 a.m., having lost contest hours prior.

    hollowed out squash

    I thought of all this the other day while at the co-op house of my friend Amelia in Santa Cruz. We'd been to the Everett Family Farm Stand and were preparing to make dinner for her nine housemates, two of whom are vegan. We had planned on butternut risotto, with some form of protein for the vegans, but found ourselves zapped of energy after a long day of eating, hiking, and shopping. We spent a few tense moments deliberating: what could we make that would please everyone, with the ingredients at hand?

    ingredients in pan cooking

    Had it been up to me, I would have succumbed to an overwhelmed melt-down in the middle of the kitchen. Or feigned illness while weakly suggesting everyone order pizza. Thankfully, it was not up to me.

    mushrooms in pan

    Finding some cooked brown rice in the refrigerator, Amelia had the brilliant notion of stuffing the squash that we had already roasted. She scraped out some of the butternuts' flesh and stirred it into brown rice seasoned with sauteed onion and sweet Jimmy Nardello peppers. She added grated firm tofu for protein, and baked the whole thing in the oven. We melted cheese over the tops of some, and served slices of the stuffed squash with arugula pesto made from their homegrown greens.

    cheese in bowl

    stuffing mix

    The finished vegetarian stuffed butternut squash wer not only beautiful to behold, they wer delicious and healthy, too. It made me wonder why I'd never made, had, or seen stuffed butternut squash. Creamy-sweet butternuts make a pretty vessel for any filling, and even the skin turns tender and edible after so much baking.

    squash on baking tray

    I think Amelia would kick some ass on Chopped.

    cheese on squash

    I was inspired by my new found love of millet and my ongoing obsession with chewy shiitakes to stuff these squash with a fall medley: sauteed onions and mushrooms flavored with chile flakes, sage, thyme, and a splash of wine. I added goat cheese and gruyère to the filling, and more gruyère to the tops, because cheese makes everything better (even when not consumed as a hysterical displacement activity).

    water poured onto kale

    kale in a blender

    And I made a kicky kale pesto to offset the sweet richness of the squash, since the arugula version at Amelia's worked so well. Wilting the kale first with boiling water helps to keep the finished sauce mild-tasting and emerald green. It's a tad pungent on its own, but balances nicely in the final dish.

    overhead shot of squash

    This Thanksgiving, you might consider sparing the turkey and serving this vegetarian stuffed butternut squash instead. This makes a super satisfying vegetarian meal for when you want to fuss a bit. You'll need to roast squash, cook millet, sauté vegetables, and make pesto, but all of these steps can be done a day or two ahead if you wish.

    top down shot of Vegetarian Stuffed Butternut Squash with Mushrooms, Millet, and Kale Pesto

    Hopefully, no one will be timing you.

    squash dish sliced

    More Savory Squash Recipes:

    • Gruyère and Leek Bread Pudding Baked in a Pumpkin
    • Butternut Squash Risotto with Pancetta and Chèvre
    • Roasted Winter Squash and Sage Tart
    • Roasted Delicata Squash with Miso Butter

    *Bojon appétit! For more Bojon Gourmet in your life, follow along on Instagram,  Facebook, or Pinterest, purchase my gluten-free cookbook Alternative Baker, or subscribe to receive new posts via email. And if you make this stuffed butternut squash recipe, I’d love to know. Leave a comment and rating below, and tag your Instagram snaps @The_Bojon_Gourmet  and  #bojongourmet.*

    Vegetarian Stuffed Butternut Squash with Mushrooms, Millet, and Kale Pesto
    5 from 2 votes

    Cheesy Millet-Stuffed Butternut Squash with Shiitakes, and Kale Pesto

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    This vegetarian main is packed full of flavor!
    Alanna Taylor-Tobin
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 55 minutes
    Total: 1 hour 10 minutes
    Servings: 4 as a moderate meal.

    Ingredients

    For the Stuffed Squash:

    • 1 medium butternut squash (about 2 3/4 pounds)
    • olive oil, as needed
    • salt and freshly milled pepper, as needed
    • 1/2 cup uncooked millet, rinsed and drained
    • 1 cup water
    • 1 medium yellow onion, peeled, halved, and diced
    • 1/2 pound shiitake mushrooms, rinsed briefly, trimmed, and sliced (3 cups)
    • 1/4 teaspoon red chile flakes
    • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage leaves
    • 1/2 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, plus extra for garnish
    • 2 tablespoons white wine or vegetable broth
    • 4 ounces fresh goat cheese, crumbled (about 1 cup)
    • 2 ounces gruyère cheese, grated, plus 2 more ounces for the tops (about 1 cup total)
    • toasted pumpkin or sunflower seeds, for garnish

    For the Kale Pesto:

    • 2 cups lightly packed, torn kale leaves (no stems)
    • 2 tablespoons pine nuts
    • 1 large garlic clove
    • 1/4 cup grated parmesan
    • about 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
    • a squeeze of lemon juice
    • 1 tablespoon heavy cream (optional)

    Instructions

    Roast the squash:

    • Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375ºF.
    • Use a large, sharp chef's knife to slice the squash in half lengthwise, leaving the seeds in for now. Drizzle a bit of olive oil onto a rimmed baking sheet, and use the cut side of a squash half to rub it around. Place both halves cut side down. Roast in the oven until the long, skinny part is tender when pierced with a paring knife, about 45 minutes.
    • Scrape the seeds and strings from the squash and discard. Next, carefully scrape out some of the squash flesh from the shaft and cavity, leaving a 1-inch border all around. Reserve the scraped squash meat. Lightly salt and pepper the squash halves, and set aside.

    While the squash roasts, make the millet:

    • In a small, lidded saucepan, combine the rinsed millet, 1 cup water, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Set over a medium flame and bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to very low, cover the pot, and let the millet steam until tender and all the water has been absorbed, about 15 minutes. Add more water and continue to steam if the millet isn't cooked enough for your liking; it should have the chewy-soft texture of brown rice. When the millet is cooked, remove it from the heat and let stand, still covered, for 10 minutes, then fluff with a fork. Measure out 2 cups, and reserve the rest for another use.
    • Meanwhile, cover a wide skillet with a film of olive oil, and warm over a medium flame until it shimmers. Add the diced onion, and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes. Add the mushrooms, chile, sage, thyme, and a few pinches of salt, and saute until the mushrooms are very tender, about 10 minutes. Add the wine, and cook until the pan is dry, 1-2 minutes. Remove from the heat.
    • In a large bowl, stir together the 2 cups cooked millet, the mushroom mixture, and the reserved squash flesh. Stir in the goat cheese, 2 ounces of the gruyère, and salt and pepper to taste.

    Make the kale pesto:

    • Bring a kettle of water to a boil. Place the kale in a wire mesh sieve, and pour the boiling water over the kale to wilt it. Rinse with cool water until cool enough to handle, then firmly squeeze the kale dry. Combine the wilted, squeezed-dry kale in a food processor with the pine nuts, garlic, and parmesan, and process until ground to a paste, adding the olive oil little by little to make a thick sauce. Add enough salt and lemon juice until you like the flavor, and the heavy cream if you wish – I found it helped to smooth the flavors a bit. The pesto may taste slightly bitter, but it will pair well with the sweet squash. Scrape the pesto into a small bowl or jar, cover, and chill until needed.

    Stuff and bake the squash:

    • Divide the millet mixture between the cooked and hollowed squash halves, packing it in and mounding it gently. Top with the remaining grated gruyère. Return the squash to the oven and bake until the cheese is melted and the squash and filling are heated through, 10-15 minutes.

    Eat the squash!:

    • Slice each squash half diagonally into fourths, and serve the wedges topped with thyme leaves, pumpkin seeds, and a dollop of pesto on the side.
    • Leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days – reheat before serving.

    Notes

    Inspired by my good friend Amelia DiPrimo.
    As I mentioned above, this recipe takes a few steps, much of which can be done a day or two in advance: roasting the squash, making the pesto, cooking the millet, and making the stuffing. (If you already happen to have cooked millet on hand, you'll need 2 cups for this recipe.)
    I can imagine a lot of fun variations on this recipe, such as a late summer version made with quinoa, corn, poblanos, jack cheese, and cilantro pesto.
    You can easily make this vegan by omitting all the cheeses and using firm tofu, grated on the large holes of a box mixer, in the filling.
    Nutritional values are based on one of four servings.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 471kcalCarbohydrates: 52gProtein: 21gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 34mgSodium: 318mgPotassium: 1147mgFiber: 8gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 23855IUVitamin C: 84.7mgCalcium: 412mgIron: 4.3mg
    Making this? I'd love to see!Tag your snaps @The_Bojon_Gourmet and #bojongourmet!

    More Winter Squash Recipes:

    • Roasted Delicata Squash with Brown Butter, Pomegranate & Pistachio
    • Roasted Delicata Squash Rings with Miso Butter
    • Brown Rice Bowls with Delicata Squash, Tofu & Miso Butter
    • Roasted Delicata Squash Chickpea Cauliflower Curry
    • Spaghetti Squash Cakes with Eggs & Greens
    • Roasted Stuffed Poblano Chiles with Cheesy Butternut Quinoa + Pepita Crema {Gluten-Free}

    Vegetarian Stuffed Butternut Squash with Mushrooms, Millet, and Kale Pesto on a plate

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Monet says

      November 02, 2013 at 3:26 am

      Smile. I get stressed out watching CHOPPED. I know I would totally freeze if I was on that show! I also know that this looks heavenly. What an inspired meal! I will be adding all of these ingredients to my shopping list and making it soon!

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        November 05, 2013 at 9:08 am

        Haha! Thanks, Monet - you're such a sweetheart. I hope you love it! :D

        Reply
    2. Anonymous says

      November 02, 2013 at 2:33 pm

      Wonderful recipe! Thank you!

      Marie

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        November 05, 2013 at 9:08 am

        You're welcome!

        Reply
    3. Deb says

      November 02, 2013 at 8:21 pm

      I suppose "Chopped" is all about being super quick and thinking a mile a minute. Not my favorite way of being in the kitchen. But there is a skill and mindset that is helpful. The ability to use when we already have in the pantry and what is in season is always the hallmark of a great cook/chef. The Cheesy Millet Stuffed Butternuts are a perfect example of using seasonal and what is already in stock!

      I visited Everett Family Farm just last week and returned home with heirloom apples, eggs, apple cider and a huge bag of fresh veggies. The persimmons trees are just dripping with lush fruit!

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        November 05, 2013 at 9:11 am

        Totally! I have suspicions that it's all staged, anyway - but that's mostly just to make myself feel better! Thank you for your kind words, Deb. I'm so glad you enjoyed Everett, too - their apple cider is to die for! I wish I could just live there. :)

        Reply
    4. Laura | Fork Knife Swoon says

      November 05, 2013 at 7:19 pm

      These look beautiful, and I love the flavor combinations you've got going with the roasted squash, mushrooms, onion, sage, goat cheese... ahhh! It just sounds amazing. All those lovely, savory fall flavors. This is a definite must try!

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        November 05, 2013 at 8:32 pm

        Awww, thank you, Laura! :)

        Reply
    5. Irina @ wandercrush says

      November 09, 2013 at 4:01 am

      Another beautiful recipe—haven't thought of pairing butternut with pesto before. So happy to have found your blog!

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        November 09, 2013 at 5:01 am

        Thank you for reading and for the sweet note, Irina!

        Reply
    6. aida mollenakmp says

      November 11, 2013 at 5:11 pm

      This sounds fabulous! I'm going to try to talk my family into adding it to the table for Thanksgiving!

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        November 11, 2013 at 6:25 pm

        That's fantastic, Aida! Let me know how you like it. :)

        Reply
    7. Carrie says

      November 16, 2013 at 4:40 pm

      I just found your blog and I LOVE it!! I'm planning Thanksgiving dinner and this looks awesome!

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        November 16, 2013 at 5:26 pm

        Aw, thank you, Carrie! :)

        Reply
    8. Mara @ ElementalCustard says

      November 24, 2013 at 4:57 pm

      This pictures is absolutely stunning- I love the colours! So dramatic :)

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        November 24, 2013 at 6:21 pm

        Aw! Thank you, Mara. :)

        Reply
    9. Kate says

      November 26, 2013 at 5:40 am

      Just made this for dinner tonight, and it was fantastic. I really enjoyed the kale pesto.

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        November 26, 2013 at 6:40 pm

        I'm so glad you liked it, Kate! Thank you for the lovely comment. :)

        Reply
    10. cheri says

      December 07, 2013 at 7:03 pm

      I love this recipe and the kale pesto was divine. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        December 07, 2013 at 9:24 pm

        I'm so happy to hear that! Thanks for the sweet note, Cheri. :)

        Reply
    11. cheri says

      December 08, 2013 at 11:31 pm

      Hi Alanna, I'm going to be making this for Christmas dinner as a side to my sister-in-laws main course. My question for you is, can I make the kale pesto ahead of time and freeze it? I make regular basil pesto for the freezer, but leave out the cheese. What do you think? And by the way, your recipes rock!!!!

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        December 08, 2013 at 11:41 pm

        That's awesome! I'm so honored to have my dish featured at your family's dinner. I think you could definitely freeze the pesto; it should be fine to include the cheese. We freeze basil pesto, too, and the kale version should be even sturdier. Thank you for the sweet note - it has made my day!

        Reply
    12. Creepsauce says

      December 24, 2014 at 6:06 pm

      This recipe looks relish! My mom & I had found a recipe for veggie-ducken, an extravagant vegan center piece for the holidays. We couldn't find a Banana Squash down at my grandparents' house in Florida. Instead we got butternut squashes and a little pumpkin. I'm enthusiastic to use this idea as a spring board for the holiday main course. My vision includes rice, chestnut pesto, whole chestnuts, quartered brussels sprouts and red peppers. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        December 24, 2014 at 11:58 pm

        Sounds great!

        Reply
    13. Claire says

      February 12, 2017 at 9:03 am

      This is delicious! I used cabbage and peas instead of mushrooms and mozzarella instead of goat's cheese and I used a different British squash (not butternut), but it tastes amazing! I already have lots of kale pesto in the freezer made from a slightly different recipe, but it works just as well. So yummy, thank you! :)

      Reply
    14. Suzanne McGrath says

      October 17, 2020 at 6:31 pm

      Very unique recipie with complex flavors. It is time consuming but worth the effort.

      Reply

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