Vegan Stuffed Butternut Squash with Lentil & Apple filling is a hearty and satisfying plant-based main course for any winter dinner and makes for a show stopping holiday meal! Easy to make ahead of time!

Source: veganricha.com

Ingredients

• 1 large Butternut Squash or two small butternut squashes
• 2 tsp oil
• 1/4 tsp salt
• generous dash of black pepper

For the Filling:

• 1 tsp oil
• 1/4 tsp fennel seeds preferably crushed
• 1/4 tsp dried sage or 1 tbsp chopped fresh sage
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1/4 tsp dried rosemary
• 1/4 cup (40 g) of finely chopped red onion
• 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
• 15 oz can of lentils drained, or 1.5 cups cooked lentils
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp onion powder
• 1/8 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 of an apple chopped small
• 1/4 cup (27.25 g) chopped pecans omit for Nutfree

Instructions

1. Slice the butternut squash into half. Remove the seed box, then drizzle, brush all over with oil, and sprinkle salt and pepper.
2. Bake at 400 degrees F (205 C) for 45-50 minutes, or until cooked completely in the middle.
3. Meanwhile, make your lentil filling. Heat a skillet over medium heat, add oil, then add in your fennel seeds, and herbs, sage, thyme, rosemary, and mix in.
4. Add in the onion, garlic, and mix in, and cook until the onion is golden.
5. Add in your lentils, salt, onion powder, black pepper, and mix in, then add in the apples, pecans, and mix in, and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the mixture is heated through. Taste and adjust flavor.
6. Remove the butternut squash from the oven. Scoop out the middle portion of the butternut squash, leaving about half an inch in the squash.
7. Mash the butternut squash that you removed and lightly mix into the lentils. You dont want to completely mix it in, there should be some blobs of butternut squash in the lentil mixture. Also if you handle the mixture too much, the lentils would start to break down.
8. Spoon the lentil mixture into the scooped out butternut squash. sprinkle a little bit of salt and pepper, and bake at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes, or broil for 1-2 minutes.
9. Remove from the oven and serve as is, or serve with a drizzle of lemon juice, or a side of gravy . To make this without nuts, just omit the pecans.