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This quinoa with butternut squash and dried cranberries is delicious, easy to make and great for a holiday side dish. It also is vegan and gluten free.
Hi everyone! Happy Thursday!
With all the holiday shopping and cookie baking craziness around me, I managed to come up with another simple fall/winter quinoa recipe.
I was planning on making this dish with roasted butternut squash and farro, but… I forgot to buy the farro! Thanks to the fact that, I always have a huge pack of quinoa in my pantry, which saved my life this time. To be honest, the dish turned out warm, comforting and delicious! I’m still tempted to try it with faro and will report back the result.
The combination of butternut squash, spinach and cranberries brings an amazing flavors to this quinoa. And besides roasting the butternut squash and cooking the quinoa, you only need less than 10 minutes to put it together. Of course, you can roast your squash and cook quinoa in advance.
Butternut squash is a winter squash, low in calories and rich in Omega 3. Roasting the butternut squash makes it taste sweeter and more flavorful.
With three super foods (Quinoa, spinach and butternut squash) in this dish it is a pure winner. Loaded with protein, fiber, vitamins and antioxidants.
This quinoa is clean and packed with nutritious ingredients. It made a light weekday lunch for me, but it will definitely be a great holiday side dish. It is healthy and will make you feel great from the inside out. I’ve been trying to cut down on any extra calories, but feta cheese makes a great topping for this quinoa. I added some toasted pecans, which brought crunch and great flavor.
To roast the butternut squash: I usually cut it in half, scrape out the seeds and flesh and peel it. Then dice it into 1/2 inch cubes. Spray it with olive oil, season with salt and pepper. I then bake it on 350 F for 30-40 minutes, until tender.
I hope you enjoy it!
More Squash Recipes:
- This Stuffed Honeynut Squash from Running to the Kitchen is made using a hybrid squash andperfect for roasting and stuffing with this quick and easy fall inspired filling.
- Chicken Alfredo Spaghetti Squash – very easy to make, low carb pasta dish, loaded with flavors and light on carbs.
- Spinach and Feta Spaghetti Squash – light and easy to make, grain free meal with great flavors.
Quinoa With Butternut Squash Spinach And Dried Cranberries
Ingredients
- olive oil spray
- 3 cups (1/2 large) butternut squash diced into 1/2 inch cubes
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 8 yellow pearl onions, (or shallots)
- 1 garlic clove pressed
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cups washed spinach
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup toasted pecans, (walnuts)
- 3 cups cooked quinoa, (see how to cook it here)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F (177 C).
- Line baking sheet with aluminum foil or silpat. Line squash, spray evenly with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake until tender for 30-40 minutes.
- Heat two 2 tbsp olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Cook yellow pearl onions (shallots) and garlic for 3-4 mites until shallots start to turn translucent.
- Add spinach and cook for 2-3 more minutes.
- In the same pan, that you cooked the spinach, (or in a blow) add roasted butternut squash and cranberries. Stir to combine.
- Transfer to bowls, top with toasted pecans and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Quinoa Recipes:
Quinoa, pomegranate and spinach salad
Broccoli and Quinoa Fritters
This is such a gorgeous salad! I love the butternut squash and quinoa in here! The colors and flavors are just beautiful!
Thanks Kelly!
What a colorful dish Mira! I LOVE it, so healthy and nutritious! Your pictures are beautiful…Pinned to multiple boards! 🙂
Thank you so much Manali!
Wow! This is such a bright colorful dish Mira!! Pinned!! 🙂
Thank you!
This salad is so bright and gorgeous! I just love the colors! It is so festive and I truly love the simplicity of the dish. I love quinoa, but I love the texture more of farro, so I can imagine that would be an amazing dish as well! Beautiful!
Thank you!
This is definitely a perfect dish that I will be making on Christmas. I love my naughty Christmas desserts so I definitely need a healthy quinoa dish like this to eat for my main!
Thanks Thalia!
This is obviously a winter salad but it’s one I want right now at the height of summer. It’s ALL my favorite ingredients. It’s very pretty too.
Thanks Maureen! Yeah, I know it is summer where you are, but this salad is great for summer, too 🙂
Mira, you are one of the few people who can get me excited about quinoa! So bright and cheerful AND healthy!! I also have to say I love your photos!! Colours, composition, styling – you’ve nailed it all!
Thanks a lot Nagi! I’m glad you like the photos, you have such a great eye for composition and I enjoy your pictures 🙂
Yum- so many of my favorite ingredients in one amazing salad! Gorgeous as always!!
Thanks Sonali ! I kind of thought you might like it 🙂
Hey Mira! I just wanted you to know that I made this for a family get together yesterday and it was awesome! I added some fresh oregano to the spinach and shallots while they were cooking and it was a huge hit. Thanks for the inspiration. 🙂
Hey Linda, I’m so glad you got to try the recipe and liked it! Great!!! So happy!
I love all the colors here! I have all these ingredients on hand, too, which is an amazing coincidence. My husband only recently discovered he LOVES butternut squash too! Pinned x9. 🙂