Quinoa with Butternut Squash and Walnut

Quinoa with Butternut Squash and Walnut

We love this yum fest of a recipe because it can be made in advance for entertaining or cooked and devoured immediately. Equally both taste great! It’s gluten free, packed with protein and full of heavenly flavours. The dish is easy to make plus it looks so pretty on the plate. From October through to January butternut squash are in season and we love the versatility of this nutty vegetable. As the vibrant orange colour suggests, it's a good source of Vitamin C, making it a great defender of the cold.

Quinoa with Butternut Squash and Walnut
Quinoa with Butternut Squash and Walnut

We can imagine this quinoa with butternut squash and walnut on a huge serving dish in the middle of the table at MoaAlm Mountain Retreat as part of a side dish at Christmas. The dish can be altered in so many ways, we have tried it with pumpkin, replaced the walnuts with cashews and used bulgur wheat instead of quinoa. We have even used this recipe to stuff into roasted aubergines. Endless options! 

Quinoa with Butternut Squash and Walnut
Quinoa with Butternut Squash and Walnut


Quinoa with Butternut Squash and Walnut

Ingredients

Half of a medium sized Butternut Squash

400g Quinoa

Splash of olive oil

1 red onion 

100g walnuts

50g Pumpkin seeds

50g dried cranberries

A large handful of fresh spinach leaves

2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley 


For the dressing

1 clove of garlic

100ml Olive oil

50 ml Balsamic vinegar

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1 tsp maple syrup

Salt and pepper to taste 


Instructions

Cut the butternut squash into cubes, slice the red onion and roast in the oven with a splash of olive oil for about 20 minutes. While the squash is roasting, cook the quinoa as per instructions (generally around 12 minutes in water that has boiled and then simmer). Add the walnuts to roast in the oven for about 10 minutes. 

While everything is cooking, make your dressing by either whizzing all the dressing ingredients in a blender or finely chopping the garlic, adding the remaining ingredients in a jar, shaking to mix. 

Allow the cooked quinoa to cool slightly by spreading out onto a baking tray. This prevents it from over cooking. Finally, chop or tear up your spinach leaves, and when the quinoa has cooled add all the remaining ingredients, drizzling the dressing at the end. 

Quinoa with Butternut Squash and Walnut
Quinoa with Butternut Squash and Walnut


For similar recipes, check out our Red Onion Caramelised Rice

Happy Cooking!

If you would rather we cooked this recipe for you, then why don’t you join us this winter at MoaAlm Mountain Retreat for a week high in the Austrian Alps of East Tyrol. We offer plant based meals as part of our Yoga and Snowshoe Hiking Holidays. 

#relaxinglyactive #veganrecipes