Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup black (forbidden) rice
  • 2 medium acorn squash
  • 3 tablespoons walnut or extra virgin olive oil, divided
  • Sea salt to taste
  • 1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2 ribs celery, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 3/4 cup chopped toasted walnuts, divided
  • 1/3 cup golden raisins
  • 1 teaspoon maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
  • 2 cups baby arugula, or as needed
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Shaved Parmesan cheese, for garnish
  • Reynolds Wrap(R) Aluminum Foil

Method

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with Reynolds Wrap(R) Aluminum Foil. Rinse the black rice. Add rice to 1 1/2 cups of water. Bring it to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook for 45 minutes until cooked through. Remove the lid, fluff with a fork and leave the lid ajar to cool.
  • While the rice cooks, roast the squash. With a sharp knife split the squash into quarters. Remove seeds and rub both the flesh and skin with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Spread them on the foil-lined baking sheet cut side up and roast for 40 minutes until tender and browned in spots.
  • Prepare the stuffing. Warm 2 teaspoons of the oil over medium heat in a pan, saute the onion and celery until just softened, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a mixing bowl. Grind the fennel seed or chop well with a sharp knife. Add fennel, 1/2 cup of the walnuts and raisins and drizzle with the remaining oil, maple syrup and vinegar. Toss to coat. This much can be done a day in advance and brought to room temperature before serving.
  • When ready to serve, arrange the squash wedges on a platter. Toss the arugula in with the rice stuffing along with a few pinches of salt and pepper and toss again. Fill the insides of the squash with the stuffing; it is ok if a bit spills over. Garnish with the remaining walnuts and fresh shaved Parmesan and serve.