- 3 acorn squash (3/4 – 1 lb. each)
- 5 oz. bulk turkey sausage
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1/2 medium green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 2 cups chopped cherry tomatoes (1 pkg)
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed
- ½ tsp salt
- Several dashes hot red pepper sauce to taste
- 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese (I used Mozzarella)
Cooking Directions:
(6 Servings)
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. Cut squash in half horizontally. Scoop out & discard seeds. Place the squash cut-side down on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until tender, about 45 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, lightly coat a large skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium heat. Add turkey sausage & cook, stirring & breaking up, until lightly browned, 3-5 minutes. Add onion & bell pepper; cook stirring often, until softened, 3-5 minutes. Stir in garlic, ½ chili powder & ½ cumin cook for 30 seconds. Stir in tomatoes, beans, salt & ½ hot sauce, scraping up any browned bits. Cover, reduce heat, & simmer until the tomatoes are broken down, 10-12 minutes. (If not spicy enough add a little at a time of the remaining called for spice)
4. When the squash is tender, reduce oven to 325 degrees. Fill squash with turkey mixture. Top with cheese. Place on baking sheet & bake until the filling is heated through & cheese is melted, 8-10 minutes.
Tips:
1. I cooked this without reducing the spice and it was really spicy, so to cut the spice I then simmered the turkey mixture in a whole can of chicken broth for a few minutes and then drained the chicken broth out. This helped a TON, that’s why the directions say to cut back then gradually add in the spice.
2. If you have the time to prepare meals ahead I would suggest making the turkey mixture a head of time and freezing it into 3 portions. Then when you want it for dinner, take one portion out and unthaw it. Cook one acorn squash as oppose to 3 and you’ll have a great meal for 2 nights (or 2 people - one night) instead of 6 nights (or 2 people- three nights).
