Crispy Quinoa and Butternut Squash Salad

This Quinoa and Butternut Squash Salad delivers a lot of crunch and hearty fall taste. The quinoa is tossed in spicy chili crunch sauce and baked till crispy, providing a deliciously crunchy distinction to the autumn flavors of the butternut squash, creamy inexperienced dressing, and energy greens.

You guys completely LOVED our Roasted Butternut Squash and Blackberry Harvest Salad, so we knew we needed to make one other butternut squash salad this fall — besides this time we wished to incorporate our new obsession, CRUNCHY QUINOA! And let me let you know, the flavors and textures of this salad are complete autumn heaven! For those who’ve obtained any leftover cooked quinoa, it’s the proper technique to put it to make use of.

You’ll ideally want some cooked quinoa for this recipe, because it will get baked within the oven with the butternut squash to crisp it up. However you possibly can all the time cook dinner some up recent. After that, simply make the dressing and toss all of it collectively! It’s a fairly easy recipe with a giant taste recreation.

What You Must Make Quinoa and Butternut Squash Salad

• Cooked quinoa: Use chilly quinoa in case you can! This recipe is nice for leftover quinoa for that actual cause.
• Chili crunch: This will get combined into the quinoa earlier than baking to create a spicy, crispy coating. It’s SO, so good.
• Butternut squash: This additionally will get baked to crispy perfection and provides a candy, nutty taste to the salad.
• Energy greens combine: We used a mixture of child kale, spinach, arugula, and kale on this recipe, however you’re welcome to make use of your favourite greens.
• Greek yogurt: To make the creamy dressing. Greek yogurt provides a tangy, protein-packed aspect.
• Mayonnaise: Mayo provides richness to the dressing, giving this salad some wholesome fat.
• Contemporary herbs: We used recent tarragon and thyme leaves to offer the dressing a shiny, herby taste.
• Inexperienced onions: Provides a punch of taste to the dressing to raise the general style of the salad.
• Lemon juice: Each salad dressing wants a little bit of acidity!  
• Small blender: You’ll want a small blender to make the creamy dressing.

Toppings

• Golden raisins
• Goat cheese
• Pumpkin seeds

Chilly-cooked quinoa is most well-liked on this recipe as a result of it is going to maintain its form higher and never get mushy when combined with the dressing and baked with the butternut squash.

If it is advisable to cook dinner quinoa the identical day, simply ensure to let it cool fully earlier than utilizing.

It relies on your style! We like to make use of Momofuku or Dealer Joe’s model chili crunch, however you may also use another model or make your individual at residence. Simply ensure it has a great quantity of spice and crunch so as to add to the salad!

Our Favourite

Beast Blender

The Beast Blender is our go-to blender for smoothies, dips, soups, and every little thing in between. It’s the proper measurement and reasonably priced. Oh, and oh-so highly effective!

Tips on how to Make Quinoa and Butternut Squash Salad

1. Prep Quinoa: Preheat the oven to 400ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Subsequent, switch the cooked quinoa to the lined baking sheet and add the chili crunch, stirring till the entire quinoa is coated. Unfold into a fair layer over the parchment paper. 
2. Prep Veggies: Toss the butternut squash, onion, garlic, olive oil, and sea salt on a separate baking sheet.
3. Bake: Switch each baking sheets to the oven. Place the quinoa on the highest shelf and the butternut squash on the shelf under. Prepare dinner each baking sheets for 40-50 minutes or till the quinoa is crispy and the butternut squash is cooked via.
4. Make Dressing: Whereas every little thing bakes, mix the entire dressing substances in a small blender or meals processor. Mix till easy, then put aside.
5. Assemble & Serve: Take away the baking sheets from the oven and evenly distribute the quinoa and greens into 4-6 bowls. Add a handful of greens to every bowl and high every little thing with golden raisins, goat cheese, pumpkin seeds, and dressing. Serve instantly and luxuriate in!

The dressing for this salad is of course going to be thinner. If you’re on the lookout for a thicker dressing, we suggest including 3-4 additional tablespoons of mayonnaise or Greek yogurt. 

This quinoa and butternut squash salad may be saved in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3-4 days. To maintain every little thing recent and crisp, depart the dressing on the facet and add it simply earlier than serving.

Serving Strategies

After I consider butternut quinoa salad, I consider different fall recipes like this Creamy Pumpkin Wild Rice Soup or Pumpkin Chili. You can even purchase some butternut squash in bulk and have an entire butternut squash-themed meal that includes this Butternut Squash Risotto, Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese, or Butternut Squash Lasagna. Delish!