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Discover 4 of the very best recipes for Christmas side dishes that are guaranteed to make your festive meals, with family or friends, a huge success!
These recipes are healthy, nutritious and incredibly delicious. You’ll be wanting Christmas to come more often, for an excuse to enjoy these again and again.
So why wait? These menu showstoppers are perfect for anytime of the year and are sure to be enjoyed by everyone invited to attend the feast.
So what are they?
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The 4 Best Recipes For Christmas Side Dishes.
These truly are divine!
Portobello Mushroom And Lentil Stuffed Acorn Squash. Christmas Side Dishes.
This delightful acorn squash dish provides a wonderfully nutty and deliciously different dish.
The addition of crispy pancetta or bacon, the rich Portobello mushrooms, Sweet Dates, and herbal aromas of sage bring immense flavor.
No more soggy squash dishes! This will transform the way you view squash! A wonderful dish with deep flavor, and sure to be enjoyed by all!
Portobello Stuffed Acorn Squash
HolisticJB
Our stuffed acorn squash provides a protein packed, healthy and tasty alternative to the usual or traditional Christmas side dishes. With the crisp pancetta, deliciously rich Portobello mushrooms, tangy and sweet dates along with aromatic sage you get fabulous, bold flavors with every bite.
And as an added bonus, the addition of the lentils and walnuts give depth and a truly nutty flavor. This dish is equally as good as a vegetarian option (simply remove the pancetta).
5
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Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 35 minutes mins
Course Appetizers, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Ingredients
- 3 acorn squash
1 tbsp olive oil- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic
- 4 oz. pancetta
- 1 ½ lb. portobello mushrooms
- ½ yellow onion medium
- 1 cup green lentils
- 1.5 tbsp sage fresh
- ¼ cup red wine dry
- ⅓ cup dates
- ¼ cup walnuts
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese
- sea salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
Position your oven rack to the center of the oven and preheat to 400°F.
Spray a large baking dish with non stick cooking spray. Cut the 3 acorn squash in half. Scoop out any seeds or fibrous matter and place them cut side up in the baking dish. Brush the cut edges with 1 tbsp olive oil. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste.
3 acorn squash, 1 tbsp olive oil
Place baking dish on a center rack in your pre-heated oven and roast for 40 minutes, or until the squash is fork tender.
In the meantime, heat the remaining 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced 4 cloves garlic and 4 oz. pancetta and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly browned, approximately 2-3 minutes.
2 tbsp olive oil, 4 cloves garlic, 4 oz. pancetta
Add chopped 1 ½ lb. portobello mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until they start to brown, approximately 4-5 minutes. Add sliced ½ yellow onion and continue cooking, stirring once or twice, for another 3-4 minutes.
1 ½ lb. portobello mushrooms, ½ yellow onion
Stir in the 1 cup green lentils, fresh 1.5 tbsp sage, and ¼ cup red wine. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens, approximately 8-10 minutes.
1 cup green lentils, 1.5 tbsp sage, ¼ cup red wine
Remove from heat and stir in the 1/3 cup dates and toasted ¼ cup walnuts. Season with sea salt and black pepper, to taste. Set aside.
1/3 cup dates, ¼ cup walnuts, sea salt, black pepper
When ready, remove cooked squash from oven. Let the squash cool slightly before filling each half with the Portobello mushroom mixture. Sprinkle each half with the freshly grated ¼ cup parmesan cheese.
¼ cup parmesan cheese
Return the stuffed squash to the oven for another 5-10 minutes. Ensure the mixture is heated through and the cheese has melted. Remove from oven and serve immediately. Enjoy!
Notes
Acorn squash seeds can be seasoned and toasted, just like pumpkin seeds. Reserve the seeds while preparing this recipe to enjoy as a healthy snack later.
Nutrition
Serving: 426gCalories: 355kcalCarbohydrates: 54.86gProtein: 13.02gFat: 12.74gSaturated Fat: 2.348gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3.393gMonounsaturated Fat: 6.217gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 358mgPotassium: 1179mgFiber: 9.6gSugar: 10.92gVitamin A: 870IUVitamin C: 26.1mgCalcium: 141mgIron: 3.79mg
Keyword acorn squash, portobello mushrooms, squash
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Creamy Mashed Sweet Potato With Walnuts and Thyme. Christmas Side Dishes.
These rich and creamy mashed sweet potatoes just have to feature in our best recipes for Christmas side dishes. In fact they would feature as one of the best recipes for just about any holiday meal.
They are so quick and easy to make, you’ll want to enjoy them throughout the year. And why not! Healthy, Nutritious and Delicious!
Cranberry and Pear Sauce With Ginger and Rosemary. Christmas Side Dishes.
This gorgeous and delicious cranberry pear sauce is sure to be a hit this holiday season!
It is super quick and easy to make and has no refined sugar. Instead, it gets its sweetness naturally, from the ripe pears and a dash of real maple syrup.
Once you try this recipe, you’ll never look at store bought cranberry sauce the same. We guarantee!
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Warm Garlic And Parmesan Shrimp With Roasted Garlic Dip. Christmas Side Dishes.
This warm garlic and parmesan shrimp is packed with wonderful flavors, but the absolute star of the dish is the versatile roasted garlic dip.
So there we have it! The 4 best recipes for Christmas Side Dishes! Please do let me know if you make these dishes and please share your thoughts with us. Happy Christmas!
