The key to ensuring that dinner is both substantial and healthy? Fiber.
Adding whole grains and vegetables not only provides nutrients, it also fills you up and keeps you full long after the meal has finished. These foods also tend to be lower in calories, which means you can load up without getting weighed down.
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Farro and mushroom stuffed acorn squash
1 large acorn squash (about 1 1/2 pounds)
1/2 cup farro
8 ounces mixed mushrooms, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 shallots, chopped
2 cups baby spinach
1/2 teaspoon orange zest
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
2 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese
4 lemon wedges
Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil.
Cut acorn squash into quarters. Scoop out and discard the seeds. Trim off a small slice of skin from the curved side of each quarter to allow it to sit flat.
Spritz a 9-by-9-inch baking dish with cooking spray and arrange the squash in the pan, skin side down. Bake 30 to 40 minutes, or until just softened.
Meanwhile, make the stuffing. Add the farro to the boiling water and cook until tender but still al dente, about 15 minutes. Drain.
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high. Add mushrooms, salt and pepper and cook for 10 minutes, or until well browned. Add garlic, shallots, spinach, orange zest, thyme and oregano, then cook for 3 more minutes. Stir in drained farro.
When the squash is ready, spoon stuffing into the center of each quarter. Sprinkle with feta cheese and bake for another 20 minutes, or until the squash is tender when pierced with the tip of a knife. Serve each squash quarter with a wedge of lemon.
Servings » 4
Source: The Associated Press
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This one-dish meal is rich in savory flavors thanks to a blend of mushrooms and cheese, as well as plenty of fiber from the farro.
The flavors of the stuffing combine with the sweetness of acorn squash and fresh, bright citrus and herbs to create a meal that will feel less like you’re leaving something out and more like you’re indulging in something hearty.
Farro is an ancient variety of wheat common in Italian and Middle Eastern cooking. It usually is sold parcooked to shorten the cooking time. Be sure to check the package’s instructions to determine the appropriate prep time.
Copyright 2012 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.






