Pinto Bean Stuffed Acorn Squash with Cornmeal Mush Topping
Cook time: 20 minutes
Serves: 4
INGREDIENTS:
Acorn Squash
- 2 acorn squash, sliced in half lengthwise, seeds removed
- 2 cups pinto beans
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 2 slices raw bacon, chopped
- ½ onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 small to medium sized tomatoes, chopped
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- ½ tsp ground cumin
Cornmeal Mush
- ½ cup cornmeal
- 2 cups whole milk
- olive oil
- kosher salt
- black pepper
PREPARATION:
Acorn Squash
Preheat the oven to 375°. Season the cut side of each acorn half with salt and black pepper and
drizzle with olive oil. Place cut side down on a sheet pan and roast until a knife slides through
the skin and the meat of the squash easily. Remove and set aside to cool slightly.
Turn the oven up to 425°. Place a skillet over medium heat, add 1tbs olive oil and, once warm,
the bacon. Cook the bacon until the fat has rendered and it is cooked through. Add the onion
and saute until tender, 3-5 minutes before adding the garlic and tomatoes. Allow the tomatoes to
cook down for 3 minutes and toss in the beans along with the red pepper flakes, cumin, ½ tsp
salt, and ¼ tsp pepper. Cook over medium-low heat, tossing occasionally. Stir in the rice, taste
for seasoning, and adjust to your liking.
Turn the acorn squash halves cut side up on the sheet pan. Spoon the pinto bean filling into the
well of each squash. Set aside.
Cornmeal Mush
Place 1.5 cups of the milk in a small sauce pan and heat until very hot but not boiling. While the
milk is warming, place the cornmeal in a bowl and whisk in the remaining ½ cup milk. Slowly
add the cornmeal to the pot with milk in it, whisking constantly, until fully incorporated. Whisk in
½ tsp salt. Allow the cornmeal to cook for 2-3 minutes until the cornmeal is soft the texture of a
thin pancake batter. Remove from the heat and immediately spoon the cornmeal mush over top
of the filling of each squash.
Final Steps
Place the squash in the oven and allow to roast until the cornmeal mush is toasted and
beginning to brown in spots. Remove from the oven and serve.