Roasted Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad

This Roasted Butternut Squash Garlic Quinoa Salad is the quintessential simple side dish or quick evening meal.

Photo: BY CHRISTINE

Ingredients

This straightforward butternut squash salad necessitates only a handful of basic ingredients. Here is what you will require to commence:

Oven-Roasted Butternut Squash

Butternut Squash – Fresh is best for this salad recipe!

• Olive Oil

• Seasoning – Rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper.

• Quinoa – Make your own, or save time by using pre-cooked quinoa.

• Pomegranate Seeds

• Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

• Arugula – Spinach, chopped kale, or any type of green works great, too!

Garlic Quinoa

• Fresh Lemon Juice

• Garlic Cloves — Roasting the garlic imparts a more nuanced and sweet flavor, enhancing this recipe.

• Extra virgin olive oil with a smooth flavor is optimal for this dish, since it enhances the prominence of the other components' characteristics.

• Salt and Pepper

How to Make

Preparing this Roasted Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad is efficient and uncomplicated, requiring minimal preparation and only a few straightforward steps. I enjoy preparing it in a large salad bowl, combining all the ingredients, and then adding the dressing immediately prior to serving. Here is the method to consistently prepare a butternut squash salad flawlessly:

1. Prepare the Butternut Squash and Garlic: Combine the chopped squash with olive oil, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper. Encase garlic cloves in foil with a small amount of oil and position them on the baking pan alongside the squash.

2. Roast the squash and garlic at 375°F until the squash is soft and caramelized, approximately 35-40 minutes.

3. Prepare the Quinoa: As the squash roasts, prepare the quinoa following the package instructions and let it to cool slightly.

4. Prepare the Dressing: Crush the roasted garlic and combine it with lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper using a whisk.

5. Combine the quinoa, roasted squash, pumpkin seeds, pomegranate seeds, and arugula. Apply the dressing, mix delicately, and savor!

Strategies for Time Optimization

• Utilize Pre-Cut Squash: Conserve preparation time by employing pre-cut butternut squash cubes available at the supermarket.

• Pre-Cooked Quinoa Packets: My preferred life hack currently as a busy mother. Utilize these microwavable quinoa packets to conserve time!

• Roast Additional Garlic: As we are already roasting garlic cloves for the dressing, add a few more to the oven. They can be utilized in soups, sauces, or even as a spread on toast during the week. You may get pre-peeled garlic cloves from the shop and subsequently roast them yourself.

• Preparation in Advance: The squash can be roasted and the quinoa cooked up to three days prior; simply combine all components before serving.

Instructions for Roasting Butternut Squash with Garlic

Roasting butternut squash and garlic for this salad enhances the caramelized tastes and inherent sweetness. Here is my preferred technique for achieving excellent roasted butternut squash with garlic consistently:

1. Dice the butternut squash into ¾-inch pieces for even roasting, then drizzle with olive oil, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper.

2. Incorporate the garlic: Encase garlic cloves in foil with a small amount of olive oil and place them on the baking pan alongside the squash. The garlic is optimally roasted without desiccation.

3. Roast: Bake at 375°F for approximately 35-40 minutes, or until the squash is soft and caramelized at the edges. This stage is where the transformation occurs—the squash and garlic emerge as the flavorful highlights of the salad!

Diversifications

• Kale Butternut Squash Salad: Substitute arugula with fresh, delicate kale! Gently massage the kale with a small amount of olive oil and salt to tenderize it before to incorporating it into the salad. I also appreciate it when it is sliced into tiny bits.

  
  

• Butternut Squash Quinoa with Goat Cheese: I am enamored with this variant. The goat cheese accompanied by sweet squash and pomegranate arils is exquisite. Excellent! Simply append it toward the conclusion, or alternatively, you may utilize feta or blue cheese.

  
  

• Butternut Squash Pasta Salad: Substitute quinoa with your preferred pasta, such as rotini or farfalle, for an enjoyable, pasta-themed salad. It is the ideal combination of comfort and freshness, with the savory lemon-garlic dressing unifying the elements. Delicious!

  
  

• Farro Butternut Squash Salad: Utilize farro for its nutty, chewy texture that enhances the squash and pomegranate seeds. Prepare the farro until it is cooked, then allow it to cool somewhat before incorporating it into the salad—this variation is particularly robust and gratifying!