Just how creative can you get with 5 ingredients or less? VERY when one of your ingredients is a pre-made spice blend. Here is our Fall Holiday Entree with 5 Ingredients or Less:
Shiitake & Wild Rice Stuffed Squash with Pomegranate Seeds
Serves 6
Ingredients
- 2 acorn squash, halved lengthwise and seeds removed
- 1 cup uncooked wild rice, rinsed
- 8 oz shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon Spicely Poultry Seasoning, OR, for a unique twist, 1/2 teaspoon French Four Spice seasoning
- ½ cup pomegranate seeds
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Procedure
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Place the squash cut-side up into roasting pans filled with 1 inch of water. Score the squash and drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil across all halves. Season with salt and pepper, then transfer to pre-heated oven and roast for 1 hour.
- While the squash is roasting, bring 4 cups of water to boil with ½ teaspoon sea salt. Place the wild rice in the boiling water, return to a simmer, then cover and cook for 45 minutes. Remove from heat, drain and rinse well, then transfer to a mixing bowl.
- Meanwhile, heat a medium saute pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and when warm, add the sliced shiitake mushrooms, ½ teaspoon of sea salt, and a pinch freshly ground black pepper. Saute until tender.
- Add the shiitake mushrooms to the mixing bowl with the wild rice and stir in the Poultry Seasoning or French Four Spice Seasoning. Add the pomegranate seeds and season with additional salt and pepper, to taste.
- When the squash is fork tender all the way through, remove from oven and fill with Shiitake & Wild Mushroom mixture.
- These steps can be done in advance, cooled completely, and refrigerated until just before mealtime. Reheat by placing in a 350-degree oven, covered, for 30 minutes.
If you want to expand beyond 5 ingredients, this recipe is great with toasted slivered almonds and chopped fresh parsley.
The Seasoning Blend also works well for traditional stuffing. Combine 1 tablespoon Spicely Poultry Seasoning with 4 cups of breadcrumbs, cubed bread or croutons.
Eat well and be merry!
