Warmly spiced chickpeas, tangy chimichurri, and roasted acorn squash fill this recipe with an sudden—however scrumptious—mixture of flavors.
Yearly in November, I prefer to share not less than one vegetarian major dish recipe. I discover that Thanksgiving hosts typically prefer to have a particular possibility for vegetarians at their desk, particularly in the event that they’re newer to the household. However what folks don’t know is that, for essentially the most half, herbivores are normally completely satisfied filling up on sides like stuffing, mashed potatoes, and roasted veggies. I definitely am!
So this 12 months, I’m bringing again a “major dish” that may double as a aspect dish: acorn squash with chickpeas and chimichurri. I stuff roasted acorn squash quarters with warmly spiced chickpeas and high them with a tangy herb sauce. It’s a scrumptious dish with unexpectedly vivid flavors that everybody can take pleasure in.
Another excuse I really like this recipe? All of the elements can be found at ALDI!
In the event you’re an ALDI fan like me, you realize that it’s a straightforward and reasonably priced place to buy an enormous household meal like Thanksgiving dinner. This recipe makes it a one-stop store! Throw some potatoes and Brussels sprouts into your cart too, and also you’ll have every part you want for a memorable vacation meal.
Easy methods to Make This Recipe
You’ll find the whole recipe with measurements on the backside of this put up, however for now, right here’s a step-by-step overview of the way it goes.
First, roast the acorn squash. Slice the squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Then, minimize every half in half once more to kind quarters. Roast the quarters minimize aspect up at 450°F till the squash is tender and the sides are browned.
- Why such a excessive oven temp? It helps the sides of the squash brown up properly for this recipe!
Whereas the squash roasts, make the herb sauce. I’m calling it a chimichurri, however to be sincere, that’s a little bit of a misnomer. The primary elements in conventional chimichurri are oil, vinegar, parsley, and oregano. Against this, this sauce stars cilantro and lemon juice. I additionally add pepitas, which give the sauce a pleasant nutty taste and make it thick sufficient to sit down on high of the chickpea filling.
Then, begin the chickpeas. You’ll sauté the chickpeas with yellow onion and braise them in a little bit vegetable broth seasoned with lemon, cumin, and a contact of cinnamon. I do know, it appears like an odd mixture, however it actually works! The pinch of cinnamon brings out the candy taste of the acorn squash.
- Ingredient tip: ALDI’s Dakota’s Satisfaction chickpeas are my favourite canned chickpeas of all time! They’ve a firmer al dente chunk than different manufacturers, which signifies that they maintain their form properly as you cook dinner them.
Whenever you’re able to serve, fill the squash quarters with the chickpeas and high them with the chimichurri. Garnish with recent cilantro, pepitas, and beneficiant drizzles of lemony yogurt. I additionally love a couple of pink pepper flakes right here for a contact of warmth!
- Tip: You may skip the lemon yogurt sauce to make this recipe vegan, or high the squash with drizzles of my cashew cream.
Get Forward
This acorn squash dish is a good one to make forward in your vacation meal! You may prep all these elements as much as 2 days upfront:
- Roasted squash
- Braised chickpeas
- Chimichurri
- Lemon yogurt
Retailer them in separate containers within the fridge till the day of your meal. Earlier than serving,
- Reheat the chickpeas within the microwave or on the range.
- Reheat the squash within the microwave or a 350°F oven.
Assemble in line with the recipe, and revel in!
Extra Vacation Recipes to Strive
Spherical out your Thanksgiving menu with these different vacation dishes:
Joyful Thanksgiving, buddies!
Acorn Squash with Chickpeas and Chimichurri
Serves 4 as a major, 8 as a aspect
This recipe is a good one to function a vegetarian vacation major or aspect dish. Skip the lemon yogurt to make it vegan.
- 2 acorn squashes, seeded and quartered lengthwise
- Merely Nature Natural Further-Virgin Olive Oil, for drizzling
- Sea salt and freshly floor black pepper
Chimichurri (makes additional)
Chickpeas
- 2 teaspoons Merely Nature Natural Further-Virgin Olive Oil
- ½ cup chopped yellow onion
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ teaspoon Merely Nature Natural Floor Cumin
- Pinch Merely Nature Natural Floor Cinnamon
- 1 (14-ounce) can Dakota’s Satisfaction Chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- ⅓ cup Merely Nature Natural Vegetable Broth
- Sea salt and freshly floor black pepper
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup finely chopped cilantro
Lemon Yogurt (optionally available)
- ½ cup Pleasant Farms Plain Greek Yogurt
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Merely Nature Natural Further-Virgin Olive Oil
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Forestall your display from going darkish
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Preheat oven to 450°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Drizzle the squash with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast, minimize aspect up, for 35 to 40 minutes, or till tender and browned across the edges.
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Make the chimichurri: Place the pepitas in a meals processor and course of till finely floor. Switch to a small bowl and blend within the pink pepper flakes, garlic, cilantro, and several other grinds of pepper. Add the lemon juice, olive oil, and maple syrup and stir till mixed. Put aside.
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Put together the chickpeas: Warmth the olive oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium warmth. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and cook dinner till smooth, 5 to eight minutes, till browned, turning down the warmth as wanted. Flip the warmth to low and add the garlic, cumin, cinnamon, and chickpeas. Stir to coat, then add the broth, ¼ teaspoon salt, and several other grinds of pepper and simmer for five minutes. Take away from the warmth and stir within the lemon juice. Put aside for a couple of minutes to permit the combination to thicken barely. Stir within the cilantro simply earlier than assembling the dish.
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Make the lemon yogurt: In a small bowl, stir collectively the yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt.
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Place the squash quarters on a platter and high with the chickpeas and chimichurri. Garnish with cilantro and pepitas and high with the lemon yogurt.
*Observe: if you happen to use uncooked pepitas, add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon sea salt to the chimichurri.
Particular because of ALDI for partnering on this put up!