Butternut Squash Stuffed with Autumn Quinoa Salad

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

1 butternut squash, cut in half lengthwise, remove seeds

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon butter

1 onion, diced

1 cup tri color quinoa, rinsed

1 ½ cups water

Salt and pepper to taste

1 cup craisins

2 medium apples, diced

1 cup toasted pecans (recipe below)

½ cup feta cheese, crumbled

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Brush olive oil on the inside of each half of the squash.  Place on a baking sheet, inside facing up.  Salt and pepper the top. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until easily pierced with a fork.  Set aside to cool.

Melt butter in a saucepan, add onions and swirl around until onions are coated. Cook over low heat 5 to 10 minutes or until onions are translucent.  Turn the heat to medium high, add the quinoa and toast, stirring for 5 minutes or until the quinoa becomes fragrant.  Add water and craisins, then bring just to a boil, stirring occasionally.  Once the quinoa starts to boil, reduce heat to simmer and cover.  Cook for 12 minutes.  Remove lid, fluff quinoa, then set aside.

Scoop the flesh out of the butternut squash leaving a cavity to fill with a  ½ to ¾” rim of squash around the rim and on the bottom.  Put removed squash in a mixing bowl.  Add quinoa, apples, and dressing and gently mix. 

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

Place squash halves on a baking sheet and fill with the quinoa salad mixture.  Sprinkle feta cheese and candied pecans on top.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until cheese begins to brown.

Serve immediately.

If you have quinoa mix left over, add remaining feta and pecans and eat as a salad.

Dressing Ingredients

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons lemon juice

½ teaspoon Dijon mustard

2 teaspoons maple syrup

Salt to taste

Directions

Whisk ingredients together.

Candied Pecan Ingredients

1 cup pecan pieces

1 teaspoon maple syrup

Pinch of salt

Directions

Mix pecans, syrup, and salt until pecans are evenly coated.  Spread on a baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 5 minutes.  Stir and bake 2 minutes more.  Remove form oven and let cool.