Acorn Squash and Broccoli Penne with Vegan Meatballs
Flavor-packed vegan meatballs pair perfectly with penne, acorn squash, and broccoli. The kale apple salad with a sweet tea vinaigrette completes the meal.
Servings
Produce
Garlic (Organic)
2 1 Clove
Yellow Onion (Organic)
1/2 0.25 Whole
Acorn Squash
1 0.5 Whole
Kale (Organic)
4 2 oz
Apple
1 0.5 Whole
Thyme
0.25 0.13 oz
Broccoli (Organic)
6 3 oz
Red Onion (Organic)
1/2 0.25 Whole
Protein & more
Vegetable Broth Paste
1 0.5 teaspoon
Chickpea flour
1/4 0.125 cup
Flax meal
2 1 tablespoon
Penne
8 4 oz
Tempeh
1 0.5 lb
Sliced almonds
1 0.5 oz
Pantry items
Olive oil
1 0.5 tablespoon
Vegan butter
3 1.5 tablespoon
Sea salt
1 0.5 teaspoon
Spice mix
Black pepper
1 0.5 teaspoon
Chili powder
1 0.5 teaspoon
Smoked paprika
1/2 0.25 tablespoon
Granulated Garlic
1 0.5 teaspoon
Mexican Oregano
1 0.5 teaspoon
Sweet Tea Vinaigrette
Olive oil
5 2.5 tablespoon
Agave
1 0.5 tablespoon
Tea, loose leaf
1 0.5 teaspoon
White wine vinegar
2 1 tablespoon
Prep ahead (optional)
a. Remove kale stem; tear leaves bite-sized. b. Chop broccoli into small bite-sized florets; ¼” dice any leftover stems. c. Chop acorn squash in half; scoop out seeds, lay flat-side down, cut ½”-thick half moons. d. Mince yellow onion, garlic and thyme leaves. e. Thinly slice apple and red onion.
Instructions
1
Assemble kale salad:
a. In medium bowl add kale (remove stem, tear leaves bite-sized), apple (thinly slice), and red onion (thinly slice).
b. Add sweet tea vinaigrette. Toss to combine; set aside to soften.
2
Cook penne:
a. In medium saucepan, bring 4 cups water to a boil, covered.
b. Add penne; stir immediately. Cook until al dente. Drain and set aside.
3
Meanwhile cook vegan meatballs:
a. Make flax “egg”: mix flax meal with 5 tbsp water. Stir and set aside.
b. In large sauté pan over medium-high heat, add 2 tsp olive oil. Add half the garlic (mince) and yellow onion (mince); cook until onion is translucent, about 2 minutes. Add to large mixing bowl.
c. Into bowl crumble tempeh. Add chickpea flour, meatball spice mix, thyme (mince leaves), and flax “egg.” Mix thoroughly. Form 1” “meatballs”.
d. In large sauté pan over medium-high heat, add 3 tsp olive oil. Add meatballs. Cook until golden, about 6-7 minutes. Set aside.
4
Cook acorn squash and broccoli:
a. In same large sauté pan, add remaining garlic clove (mince) and acorn squash (halve, scoop out seeds, cut ½” thick half moons, peel, cut ½” cubes). Stir fry until caramelized, about 2-3 minutes.
b. Add 1 cup water (½ cup for 2-person portion) and vegetable broth paste; stir. Simmer until acorn squash softens, about 5 minutes. Add broccoli (chop small, bite-sized florets, ¼” dice stems); cook until vegetables are fork tender but not mushy, another 5-6 minutes.
c. Add penne, meatballs, and 1 tbsp butter/vegan butter. Gently toss to combine and warm through, about 1-2 minutes.
5
Serve:
a. In small sauté pan over high heat, toast almonds, about 2 minutes.
b. Divide penne with meatballs among plates. Garnish with toasted almonds. Serve kale-apple salad alongside.
Chef's notes
Meat eaters can make the simplest meatballs by mixing ground chicken, pork, or beef with the spices and making 1" meatballs to bake in the oven at 425 degrees for 8-10 minutes.
All spice mixes and dressings made by Inner Chef from scratch with organic ingredients, local when possible.
This week’s local ingredients across all Inner Chef meal-kits come from:
Gundermann Acres,
Wharton County, TX
Wharton County, TX
Fagan Family Farm
Lone Star Herbs,
League City, TX
League City, TX
G&S Groves,
Mission, TX
Mission, TX
The Farm Patch,
Pleasanton, TX
Pleasanton, TX
Kitchen Pride,
Gonzales, TX
Gonzales, TX
Fruitful Hill Farm,
Bastrop, TX
Bastrop, TX
J&B Farms,
Hondo, TX
Hondo, TX
Martinez Farms,
Pleasanton, TX
Pleasanton, TX
Village Farms,
Marfa, TX
Marfa, TX
Animal Farm,
Cat Spring, TX
Cat Spring, TX
Bouldin Food Forest,
Rogers, TX
Rogers, TX
Buena Tierra Farms,
Fredonia, TX
Fredonia, TX
Dilorio Farms,
Hempstead, TX
Hempstead, TX
Engel Farms,
Fredericksburg, TX
Fredericksburg, TX
Good Flow Honey,
Austin, TX
Austin, TX
Hairston Creek Farms,
Burnet, TX
Burnet, TX
Hifi Mycology,
Austin, TX
Austin, TX
Homestead Gristmill,
Waco, TX
Waco, TX
K. H. Farms,
Poteet, TX
Poteet, TX
Pedernales Valley Farms,
Federicksburg, TX
Federicksburg, TX
Lightsey Farms,
Mexia, TX
Mexia, TX
Texas Olive Ranch,
Carrizo Springs, TX
Carrizo Springs, TX
Thomas Kindle,
Grand Saline, TX
Grand Saline, TX
Top of Texas,
Farwell, TX
Farwell, TX
US Citrus,
Hargill, TX
Hargill, TX
Bella Verdi,
Dripping Springs, TX
Dripping Springs, TX
Country Boy Farms,
Kennard, TX
Kennard, TX
Francis and Thatcher,
Manor, TX
Manor, TX
James Farm,
Prairie Ronde, LA
Prairie Ronde, LA