Recipe

Feta-Stuffed Gem Squash

Community Pick!

Recipe
1 Question

Photo by lorinarlock

This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Summer Squash Recipe
A&M's Testing Notes: An elegant variation on stuffed zucchini (or gem squash, if you're so lucky). The squash pulp is bolstered by breadcrumbs and perfumed with white wine, thyme and feta. Feel free to leave out...
An elegant variation on stuffed zucchini (or gem squash, if you're so lucky). The squash pulp is bolstered by breadcrumbs and perfumed with white wine, thyme and feta. Feel free to leave out any liquid that escapes from the cooked pulp and, if you want your filling extra brown and crispy, pass the squash under the broiler for a minute after baking. - Kristen

Expand Collapse
Chef
lorinarlock's Notes: Okay, first of all this photo isn't of a gem squash. They aren't available yet, but when they are I love them because they are cute and round and are grown about a mile from where I live...
Okay, first of all this photo isn't of a gem squash. They aren't available yet, but when they are I love them because they are cute and round and are grown about a mile from where I live. The seeds used to start Big Ranch Farm's first crop were gifts from expatriate Afrikaners who missed the vegetable that was part of their diet at home. The squash are fairly firm and take a long time to bake, but another round squash that is easy to find and cooks quicker is Ronde de Nice. Stuffed squash may seem a little dull, but this recipe is anything but. The breadcrumbs sauteed with shallots combined with tangy feta make it a great side dish or vegetarian main course. Try it with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc for dinner. - lori

Expand Collapse

Serves 4

4 baseball-size globe squash or long zucchini Ask a question about this ingredient

3 tablespoons olive oil Ask a question about this ingredient

2 large shallots, chopped Ask a question about this ingredient

1/2 cup Panko Ask a question about this ingredient

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese Ask a question about this ingredient

1/2 cup freshly grated hard cheese, such as an aged goat cheese, dry jack, or Asiago cheese Ask a question about this ingredient

1/4 cup dry white wine Ask a question about this ingredient

2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves Ask a question about this ingredient

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt Ask a question about this ingredient

1/2 teaspoon Hungarian paprika Ask a question about this ingredient

Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Ask a question about this step
Cut the tops off the squash and scoop out the pulp to make a hollow container. If using long zucchini, cut in half lengthwise and scoop out the center to create a canoe-like container. Chop the pulp into a coarse mixture and set aside.
Ask a question about this step
Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the pulp and cook until tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Return the skillet to medium heat and add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add the shallots and sauté until translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the breadcrumbs and cook until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and add the feta, hard cheese, wine, thyme, salt, and paprika.
Ask a question about this step
Divide the filling among the squash. Arrange in a small baking dish and bake until the squash is tender, 45 to 50 minutes for Gem squash, about 30 minutes for Ronde de Nice or zucchini. Let sit for about 5 minutes before serving.
Ask a question about this step

3 Comments on Feta-Stuffed Gem Squash

The Fiery Epicurean added 9 months ago

It's that time of year when you have so many zucchinis you search endlessly for new recipes. This recipes was excellent. I didn't have any shallots so I used the local sweet onion and I added chopped bacon. Any type of ground sausage would add flavor and work as well!

lorinarlock added 9 months ago

I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for keeping me posted on how it turned out.

ncavillones added about 1 year ago

This was really good! I didn't have white wine, so I skipped it. I also didn't want to turn my oven to 400 degrees (too hot here!), so I broiled the squash before stuffing it, then broiled it again after I filled them.