Preheat your oven to 400°F. While it heats, prepare your summer squash by halving them lengthwise and carefully scooping out the seeds and some flesh to create a sturdy 1/4-inch shell—reserve 3/4 cup of the scooped flesh for the filling. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and briefly blanch the hollowed squash halves for just 1 minute to soften them slightly, then drain and set aside. This brief blanch makes them easier to fill and ensures they cook through evenly.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the ground turkey, breaking it apart as it cooks until it's completely browned and no pink remains, about 5-7 minutes. Add the taco seasoning, diced onion, diced bell pepper, and the reserved squash flesh from Step 1, stirring constantly for about 2 minutes until the vegetables soften slightly and the seasonings are fragrant. Pour in the tomato sauce and water, then stir in the smoked paprika for added depth. I like to taste the mixture at this point and adjust the seasoning if needed—sometimes I add a pinch more salt or paprika depending on the brand of tomato sauce used. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, to let the flavors meld beautifully.

Spread the 1/2 cup salsa evenly across the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish (or similar size). Arrange the blanched squash halves cut-side up in the dish, then generously fill each squash cavity with the cooked turkey mixture from Step 2. Top each filled squash half with about 3 tablespoons of shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided evenly among the 8 halves. Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake at 400°F for 35 minutes until the squash is tender when pierced with a fork and the cheese is melted. I find that covering with foil prevents the cheese from browning too much while allowing the squash to cook perfectly.

Remove the baking dish from the oven and carefully peel back the foil. Garnish each stuffed squash half with a pinch of fresh scallions for brightness and color. Serve immediately while hot, with extra salsa on the side if desired.