This Bulgur Stuffed Acorn Squash was inspired by Lebanese Tabbouleh, which is a classic salad of that region with cooked bulgur wheat, parsley, and mint.
Lebanese Cuisine
Lebanese dishes are part of Levantine cuisine. The Levantine is a large area of the Eastern Mediterranean, including Lebanon, Cyprus, and Jordon, Isreal, Palestine, and Syria, plus parts of Turkey.
Like many cuisines of the Mediterranean, Lebanese dishes feature whole grains such as bulgur, lots of chickpeas, and also plenty of fresh herbs, and lemons. Nuts and seeds are also prominent. Some of the more famous examples of Lebanese dishes are hummus, tabbouleh, and baba ghanoush.
This bulgur stuffed acorn squash has all of that Mediterranean tradition going on. And then, for a bonus, pomegranate seeds, or arils, which are also a natural addition to a Lebonese inspired recipe like this one.
About Bulgur Wheat
Bulgur is whole grain wheat that has been cracked and is also known as cracked wheat. The cracked wheat grain is partially cooked, so it's a good choice for a quick-cooking grain.
You can use bulgur in place of rice or other grains in most recipes. Because it is a whole grain, it's high in fibre, vitamins and minerals, and plant-based protein.
Besides tabbouleh, and this bulgur stuffed acorn squash, bulgur is a delicious ingredient in soups, stews, or pilafs, like this Broccoli Bulgur Pilaf.
Super-Food Pomegranates
Pomegranates are often called a superfood because they are so nutritious. Loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, the pomegranate is one of the healthiest fruits (although they are actually classified as a berry) out there.
Fun Fact: the word pomegranate means "apple with many seeds". Those many seeds can be a lot of work to extract, but I found a quick video to make it easier. Check it out here: How to Deseed a Pomegranate.
What Type of Squash to Use
I used acorn squash for this recipe, but any similarly sized winter squash will work. Try kabocha or buttercup squash, or even delicata. Butternut, because of its shape, wouldn't be my first choice, but it would work, too.
Bulgur Stuffed Acorn Squash
Ingredients
- 1 acorn squash
- 1 cup whole-grain red bulgur
- 2 cups vegetable stock reduced sodium
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion diced
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 can chickpeas 14 oz
- 1 lemon juice and zest
- ¼ cup parsley chopped
- ½ cup pomegranate arils
- ¼ cup walnuts toasted
Instructions
- Heat oven to 400°
- Cut squash in half and scoop out seeds. Cut a small piece from the bottom of each half so the halves can stand upright when stuffed.
- Put squash halves cut side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until squash is fork-tender, about 45-60 minutes
- During the last 5 minutes of roasting time, spread the walnuts alongside the squash to toast them.
- Put bulgur and vegetable stock in a saucepan with a lid and cook according to package directions, usually around 15 minutes.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic, and cook until onions are soft around 5 minutes.
- Add cumin, coriander, and cinnamon to the onions and garlic, and cook, stirring about 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat and add cooked bulgur, chickpeas, pomegranate arils, parsley, lemon juice and zest, and walnuts. Stir to combine.
- Spoon filling into squash halves and return filled squash to the oven and bake for 10 minutes.
- Serve hot.
Kavita Favelle | Kavey Eats
Love how much like jewelled works of art these look, and all that colour makes me hungry! Lovely flavours, must try this.
Colleen
Thank you Kavita! Pomegranate arils do look like little jewels, don't they?
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy
I lover serving stuffed squash. Makes such a great presentation. This is a beautiful looking meal.
Colleen
Thanks Gloria! Stuffed squash is so versatile, and tasty, too. 🙂
Amy
The flavors and textures sound delicious, but I absolutely love the presentation! So beautiful!
Colleen
Thanks so much Amy! It's a delicious dish, as well as being pretty, 🙂
Dorothy at Shockinglydelish
Acorn Squash is one of my favorites! I don't use whole grain red bulgur nearly enough!!
Colleen
Hi Dorothy. I know, bulgur is often overlooked, but it's so versatile, plus healthy, bonus 🙂
Chef Markus Mueller | Earth, Food, and Fire
Yummy! I was just wondering what I could do with acorn squash!! I recently got some for free and didn't just want to make soup!
Colleen
Hey Markus, how nice to get free squash! And soup wouldn't be bad either, but I hope you love this. 🙂
Maria
All of my favorite foods and such a pretty presentation. Pinning to try. Thanks for sharing Colleen ♥♥♥ Have a great week end!
Colleen
Thanks Maria! I hope you enjoy it! Have a wonderful weekend. 🙂
Sam | Ahead of Thyme
Yum!! This stuffed squash looks amazing! Can't wait to try this at my next dinner party.
Colleen
Thanks, Sam! I hope you love it as much as we did!
Nicole | What She Ate
Pomegranate makes every dish so much prettier! This is packed with nutrition and sounds so flavorful!
Colleen
I agree Nicole, and pomegranate is also a natural with a Lebanese inspired dish, too!
Natalie Browne
I love that the squash is doubling as a bowl. This sounds so wonderfully flavourful and nutritious, not to mention beautiful to look at. Well done!!
Colleen
Thanks Natalie. Edible bowls make for less dishes to wash haha.
Denise from Urb'n'Spice
Awesome recipe, Colleen! So pretty and colourful, too. Acorn squash is one of my favourite vegetables (I always pick the smaller ones to do exactly what you did - perfect serving vessels). Thanks so much for sharing.
Colleen
Thanks Denise, I love acorn squash too, and they do make perfect serving dishes, don't they?
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Whoa! Talk about flavour packed and nutritious!! Love that the acorn squash is the 'serving dish' 🙂 Happy weekend to ya!
Colleen
Thanks Dawn, and happy weekend to you too!