Stuffed Acorn Squash

Ingredients

• 4 (1- to 1 1/4-pound) acorn squash
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 8 ounces ground pork
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup chopped celery
• 1/4 cup chopped carrot
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
• 1 1/2 cups cooked rice
• 1 (10-ounce) package frozen spinach, thawed, drained, and chopped
• 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon rubbed sage
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. 1

   Heat oven to 400ºF. Line a half-sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside.

2. 2

   Cut 1 inch off the top of each acorn squash and scoop out the seeds. If necessary in order for the squash to sit upright, cut off a small portion of the bottom. Put 1 of the 4 pieces of butter in the cavity of each squash. Set squash on the prepared sheet pan and set aside.

3. 3

   Place an 11-inch saute pan over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and swirl the pan to coat. Add the ground pork and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and cook until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Remove the meat to a small bowl and set aside. Add the remaining olive oil, onion, celery, and carrot and sauté until they begin to soften, another 5 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the white wine and sherry vinegar and let simmer until almost evaporated, 2-3 minutes.

4. 4

   Return the pork to the pan along with the cooked rice, spinach, pine nuts, oregano, thyme, sage, remaining salt and the pepper. Stir to combine and heat thoroughly, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and divide the mixture evenly among the squash, Top each squash with its lid, and bake until the squash is tender, about 1 hour. Serve immediately.