LENTIL STUFFED SUMMER SQUASH

Found on: kitchenconfidante.com

Yields1 Serving
For the Stuffed Squash:
 ½ cup lentils
 1 ½ cups vegetable stock
 3 tbsp I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! It’s Vegan divided
 4 summer squash i.e. zucchini or yellow squash
 ½ cup yellow onion finely diced
 2 cloves garlic minced
 ½ cup red bell pepper finely diced
 1 tsp sriracha
 ¼ tsp ground cumin
 ¼ tsp ground coriander
 ½ tsp white balsamic vinegar
 Kosher salt to taste
 Freshly ground black pepper to taste
 Cilantro for garnish
For the Avocado Cilantro Sauce:
 2 cloves garlic peeled
 1 tsp Kosher salt
 1 ripe avocado pitted and peeled
 ½ cup almond milk
 ½ cup fresh cilantro
 Juice of 1/2 lime
 Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Make the Stuffed Squash:
1

Put the lentils and vegetable stock in a small saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 5 minutes or until the lentils are just tender. Be careful not to overcook as you do not want the lentils to be mushy. Drain and set aside.

2

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

3

Slice the summer squash in half lengthwise and use a spoon to scoop out the flesh, setting it aside for the filling. Take about 1 tablespoon I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! It’s Vegan and rub it on the squash, place it cut side down on a baking pan. Bake for about 10 minutes, until it is just fork tender.

4

Chop the reserved squash finely.

5

Heat It’s Vegan over medium-low heat in a deep sided sauté pan. Add the onion, garlic and chopped squash. Cook until the onions are translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the bell pepper, cooked lentils, sriracha, cumin, coriander, and vinegar, and cook, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

6

Stuff the squash with the filling.

7

Bake for about 10 minutes, or until the zucchini is fully tender.

Make the Avocado Cilantro Sauce:
8

In the bowl of a food processor, blend the garlic and salt until finely chopped.

9

Add the avocado, almond milk, cilantro, lime juice and pepper. Blend until smooth. If you feel the sauce is too thick, add a touch more almond milk.

10

Adjust the seasoning if necessary with salt and pepper.

11

The sauce can be prepared ahead of time and stored in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator.

Serve:
12

Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve with the avocado cilantro sauce.

Ingredients

For the Stuffed Squash:
 ½ cup lentils
 1 ½ cups vegetable stock
 3 tbsp I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! It’s Vegan divided
 4 summer squash i.e. zucchini or yellow squash
 ½ cup yellow onion finely diced
 2 cloves garlic minced
 ½ cup red bell pepper finely diced
 1 tsp sriracha
 ¼ tsp ground cumin
 ¼ tsp ground coriander
 ½ tsp white balsamic vinegar
 Kosher salt to taste
 Freshly ground black pepper to taste
 Cilantro for garnish
For the Avocado Cilantro Sauce:
 2 cloves garlic peeled
 1 tsp Kosher salt
 1 ripe avocado pitted and peeled
 ½ cup almond milk
 ½ cup fresh cilantro
 Juice of 1/2 lime
 Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions

Make the Stuffed Squash:
1

Put the lentils and vegetable stock in a small saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 5 minutes or until the lentils are just tender. Be careful not to overcook as you do not want the lentils to be mushy. Drain and set aside.

2

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

3

Slice the summer squash in half lengthwise and use a spoon to scoop out the flesh, setting it aside for the filling. Take about 1 tablespoon I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! It’s Vegan and rub it on the squash, place it cut side down on a baking pan. Bake for about 10 minutes, until it is just fork tender.

4

Chop the reserved squash finely.

5

Heat It’s Vegan over medium-low heat in a deep sided sauté pan. Add the onion, garlic and chopped squash. Cook until the onions are translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the bell pepper, cooked lentils, sriracha, cumin, coriander, and vinegar, and cook, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

6

Stuff the squash with the filling.

7

Bake for about 10 minutes, or until the zucchini is fully tender.

Make the Avocado Cilantro Sauce:
8

In the bowl of a food processor, blend the garlic and salt until finely chopped.

9

Add the avocado, almond milk, cilantro, lime juice and pepper. Blend until smooth. If you feel the sauce is too thick, add a touch more almond milk.

10

Adjust the seasoning if necessary with salt and pepper.

11

The sauce can be prepared ahead of time and stored in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator.

Serve:
12

Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve with the avocado cilantro sauce.

Notes

LENTIL STUFFED SUMMER SQUASH