Cheese and Ham Stuffed Butternut Squash

This lovely dish packed with healthy vegetables will add vibrant colour to your everyday meal. This works well with aubergine too.

• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1  lb  butternut squash, cut into two 1/2 lb. pieces
•  olive oil, for brushing
•  ground black pepper

• For the stuffing

• 50  g butter
• 100  g button mushrooms, wiped and sliced
• 1  leek, trimmed, well rinsed and thinly sliced
• 1  slice  white bread, thick slice, cut into small cubes
• 2  slices ham, chopped
• 150  g double Gloucester cheese, grated
• 2  tablespoons  mizkan seasoned rice vinegar
• 2  tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• 1  tablespoon fresh chives, snipped, to serve

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Cut the squash in half lengthways and discard the seeds and fibres from the centre. Score the flesh with a sharp knife andplace in a shallow baking tray, flesh side up. Brush the flesh with olive oil and season with pepper. Roast for 40 minutes or until the flesh is tender.
3. Ten minutes before the end of cooking time, make the stuffing. Heat the butter in a pan and fry the mushrooms and leeks for 5 minutes more, stirring often. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the ham, half the cheese and the rice vinegar.
4. Remove the squash from the oven and carefully spoon out the flesh, leaving a thin border to support thr skins. Mash the flesh and add to the stuffing along with the parsley. Return the skins to the baking tray and divide the stuffing between each one, pressing down lightly and piling up as necessary. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese, return to the oven and bake until the cheese melts and the filling is piping hot. Scatter with chives and serve immediately.