Stuffed Za'atar Roasted Acorn Squash with Pepper-Lemon Tahini Sauce

Indulge in this seriously flavorful Stuffed Za'atar Roasted Acorn Squash with Pepper-Lemon Tahini Sauce. This hearty za'atar squash dish is stuffed with lots of all-star ingredients perfect for Thanksgiving!

• 3 acorn squash, washed and cut in half
• 2 tablespoons Za'atar
• 2 cups chickpeas, cooked (or a 15oz can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed) 
• 1 medium shallot, diced
• 3 large kale leaves, destemmed and shredded
• 1/2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne (optional)
• 1/2 cup quinoa, cooked
• salt + pepper
• sesame seeds, for garnish

• 1/4 cup tahini paste
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• sea salt
• 1/4-1/3 water

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400° and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment. place squash cut side up, and brush with olive oil; season with a pinch of salt for each, and evenly sprinkle the za'atar spice. Place in oven and bake until fork-tender; roughly 40-50 minutes. remove from oven and set aside
2. While squash are cooking, heat a 8-10 inch skillet on medium, once hot, add the olive oil and shallot; saute shallot for a few minutes, until translucent and soft. Add the chickpeas, cumin, and cayenne pepper, and a couple pinches of salt; cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the kale and cook until a bit wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the sauteed chickpeas and kale, with the quinoa. Taste for seasoning and adjust if needed
4. Stuff each squash half with roughly a 1/2 cup quinoa mix (more or less depending on the size of your acorn squash). Serve warm with a few drizzles of the tahini sauce, and sesame seeds. Enjoy!

1. In a small mixing bowl, combine the tahini, lemon juice, pepper, garlic, a few pinches of salt, and 1/4 cup water. If consistency is too thick, add more water. Taste and adjust. Store in a lidded jar in the refrigerator until ready to use. (if the tahini sauce has thickened while refrigerated, add more water, a few teaspoons at a time, to thin it out.)

Click here to buy Za'atar spice blend and other herbs and spices

Source: Dolly and Oatmeal

Photo Credit to: Lindsey S. Love