It’s officially Thanksgiving week! Wow. Last week, I gave you great vegetarian stuffed butternut squash recipe that would be perfect for Thanksgiving (http://www.newsforchews.com/2015/11/meatless-monday-stuffed-butternut-squash/) and today I’m giving you another recipe perfect for the day. While last week was more of the main dish for your vegetarian friends, or just someone wanting to serve an alternative to turkey, today’s recipe would be a great side dish. Follow the recipe below for a warm Autumn quinoa and squash salad!
Cook 1 cup of Quinoa according to package directions
4 oz Thinly sliced mushrooms
1/4 onion, chopped
2 cups butternut squash, diced small
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt, salt, & pepper to taste
2 tablespoons mint, chopped
1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped
1/2 lemon, juiced
1/4 cup dried cherries
1/2 – 1 cup Feta cheese, crumbled
1/3 cup toasted walnuts, roughly chopped or toasted slivered almonds
Dressing:
1/2 tablespoon mustard
2 tablespoons white balsamic or apple cider vinegar
3 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
salt & pepper to taste
Wish together
Warm Autumn Quinoa & Squash Salad Ingredients
While quinoa is cooking, sauté the mushrooms & onions in coconut oil, one at a time (or whatever fat you desire)
Once browned & cooked, remove from skillet and sauté the squash in olive oil for 5-8 minutes, until lightly browned & cooked
During last few minutes add the 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt, salt & pepper
Continue to stir
Add 1/4 cup water and deglaze the pan
Let sit for 10 minutes and then combine with cooked onion & mushrooms
Cover the pan and set off the heat. Let sit for 10 minutes and then combine with cooked onion & mushrooms
Once quinoa is room temperature, stir in the lemon juice
Add salt and pepper
Add the dressing to the quinoa & mix
Add the mint & parsley
If Quinoa is being eaten right away, combine the warm vegetable mixture, feta, & cherries
Sprinkle nuts on top
Warm Autumn Quinoa & Squash Salad ready to be served up
Serve
If serving later:
Refrigerate vegetable mixture, and then heat in microwave about 3 minutes on medium hight heat
Quinoa may be left of counter
When ready to serve, microwave the vegetable mixture and pour over the quinoa, topped with the feta
Stir in the cherries & sprinkle the nuts on top and you can serve over greens of choice, if desired (I used arugula)
- Cook 1 cup of Quinoa according to package directions
- 4 oz Thinly sliced mushrooms
- 1/4 onion, chopped
- 2 cups butternut squash, diced small
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt, salt, & pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons mint, chopped
- 1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 1/4 cup dried cherries
- 1/2 - 1 cup Feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/3 cup toasted walnuts, roughly chopped or toasted slivered almonds
- 1/2 tablespoon mustard
- 2 tablespoons white balsamic or apple cider vinegar
- 3 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- salt & pepper to taste
- Wish together
- While quinoa is cooking, sauté the mushrooms & onions in coconut oil, one at a time (or whatever fat you desire)
- Once browned & cooked, remove from skillet and sauté the squash in olive oil for 5-8 minutes, until lightly browned & cooked
- During last few minutes add the 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt, salt & pepper
- Continue to stir
- Add 1/4 cup water and deglaze the pan
- Let sit for 10 minutes and then combine with cooked onion & mushrooms
- Cover the pan and set off the heat. Let sit for 10 minutes and then combine with cooked onion & mushrooms
- Once quinoa is room temperature, stir in the lemon juice
- Add salt and pepper
- Add the dressing to the quinoa & mix
- Add the mint & parsley
- If Quinoa is being eaten right away, combine the warm vegetable mixture, feta, & cherries
- Sprinkle nuts on top
- Serve
- Refrigerate vegetable mixture, and then heat in microwave about 3 minutes on medium hight heat
- Quinoa may be left of counter
- When ready to serve, microwave the vegetable mixture and pour over the quinoa, topped with the feta
- Stir in the cherries & sprinkle the nuts on top
Stay hungry…