Apple & Ground Turkey Stuffed Delicata Squash
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Cook time: 
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Makes: 8 squash
 
I'm a huge fan of proper mise en place - having everything ready before you begin. But, take comfort with this recipe. If you're pecans are toasted, you can toss the squash in the oven and then start chopping your onions and garlic. Once the onions are cooking, chop the apple. This will speed up the total cook time.

As for the mascarpone. If I were reading a recipe that called for it, I would be tempted to skip it, but I urge you not to. The creaminess helps pull all the flavors together and slightly binds the filling. But, do not worry (if you, like me, are the type to worry about such things), the mascarpone does not result in a creamy filling, as you can see in the pictures.

Depending upon the size of your squash, you may have extra filling (I had a little over ½ cup left). Scoop it on top of rice, roll it in a tortilla, or, if you're me, eat it straight out of the pan, and call it breakfast.
What you'll need
  • 2 tablespoons, plus 1 teaspoon olive oil, divided
  • 4 delicata squash (each about 7-8 inches long)
  • 1 large onion, peeled and diced
  • 1 large firm apple, cut into ¼-inch dice (I used a Pink Lady)
  • ¾ teaspoon dried sage
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper
  • 3 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced
  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • ½ cup white wine
  • ½ cup (4 ounces) mascarpone cheese
  • ½ cup toasted chopped pecans
How you'll make it
  1. Heat oven to 375°F.
  2. Wash and dry squash. Trim ends from squash; halve, scoop and discard seeds. On baking sheet, toss squash with 1 tablespoon olive oil and kosher salt. (Alternatively, coat squash with cooking spray and skip the oil). Place cut side-down on baking sheet. Bake 25-30 minutes, or until tender and golden brown along the bottom.
  3. Meanwhile, in skillet over medium-high heat, warm 1 tablespoon olive oil. When hot, add onion and a pinch of kosher salt; cook 5-7 minutes, or until just starting to turn tender. Add apples, sage, cayenne and another pinch of salt; stir to coat. Cook 5 minutes, or until apples have softened, but still retain their shape. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minutes, stirring constantly.
  4. Push onion mixture to one side of the pan (if you have a cooler part of your burner, turn the pan so that that side is over it). Add remaining teaspoon olive oil to the empty side. Add ground turkey, a big pinch of kosher salt and black pepper. Increase heat to high and cook 5 minutes, or until the turkey is browned and mostly cooked through. Stir into onion mixture and cook 1-2 minutes more, or until turkey is completely cooked through.
  5. Add white wine and cook 2 minutes, or until reduced. Remove from heat. Dollop mascarpone on top and stir to melt completely. Stir in pecans. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary.
  6. Flip squash so that they are bowl side-up. (You could also transfer to a baking dish for a prettier final presentation.) Using a large cookie scoop, transfer turkey mixture to squash, mounding on top. If any pecans are completely exposed, tuck them into the filling to prevent burning while cooking. Bake 10-15 minutes, or until browned.
How to plan ahead
The Squash
• Trim, halve and seed it one day ahead of time.
• Roast it a day ahead or the earlier in the day.


The filling
• Chop onions and garlic a day ahead of time; store separately.
• Toast pecans a couple days ahead of time.
• Make the entire filling one day ahead of time.


Options for making the entire dish ahead of time
• Fill squash with ground turkey mixture. Store covered, in a single layer, until ready to eat. Remove from the fridge 30 minutes before baking, if you have the time. Bake uncovered 25 minutes, or until browned and completely heated through.
• Store roasted squash and cooked filling mixture separately. On the night of, bake squash about 10 minutes, or until warm. Meanwhile, warm filling to remove the chill (either in the microwave or a sauce pot). Add filling to squash. Bake 15 minutes, or until heated all the way through and browned.
Recipe by at https://www.lifeaswecookit.com/apple-ground-turkey-stuffed-delicata-squash/