This quinoa harvest salad is perfect for a Thanksgiving side dish. Enjoy the nutritional benefits of this superfood combination, with the sweet and savory flavors of cranberries, goat cheese, pumpkin seeds and butternut squash.
As I was making this recipe, I was thinking back to when I first cooked quinoa.
I was a sophomore in college. I was just beginning to transform my lifestyle from unwholesome to healthy, and I was doing my research on how to improve my diet. I always pronounced it like ‘kee-know-uh’, and was so surprised when I finally learned it’s actual pronunciation. Nevertheless, I was so excited to have found this superfood, especially because I enjoyed it so much. A few years later, here I am sharing my own recipes with the ingredient.
This recipe is probably my favorite side dish that I’ve ever made. Seriously.
The savory roasted butternut squash melts in your mouth like a mouthful of dissolving cotton candy at the state fair. I love the combination of sweet dried cranberries with tangy goat cheese and crunchy, salty roasted pumpkin seeds – it took the dish to another level and was complimented perfectly with the quinoa and drizzle of olive oil.
Incorporating or replacing this as a side to your Thankgiving feast makes for a nutritious addition to our otherwise, customary side of buttery mashed potatoes or green bean casserole *cringe*.
Here’s what you’re packing with the two shining stars:
- Butternut squash
- Fiber
- Potassium
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- Magnesium
- Quinoa
- Protein (quinoa is a complete protein)
- Fiber
- Iron
- Manganese
Did I mention this recipe is ridiculously easy? I would call it semi-homemade but I hate that description. The only cooking you’re doing is for the butternut squash and quinoa.
Ingredients
- 1 small butternut squash, peeled and cubed
- 1 cup quinoa
- 2 cups water
- Extra virgin olive oil, to taste
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup pepitas (roasted pumpkin seeds)
- 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Place the cubed squash atop a baking sheet. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Use your hands to make sure each cube is covered with this trifecta.
- Set to bake for 30 minutes.
- Place the quinoa and water in a rice cooker and set to cook. If you don't have a rice cooker, you can use a small sauce pan with the same quinoa to water ratio. Set the stove to medium-high heat and cover the mixture. Bring it to a boil then lower the heat for about 20 minutes.
- When squash is finished baking, and quinoa is finished cooking, combine the two in a large bowl. Add toppings, sprinkle with about a tsp of salt and pepper, and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.
If you like this recipe, don’t forget to pin it!
Join the conversation:
What’s your favorite Thanksgiving side dish?
If you could choose only one Fall vegetable for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Dried fruit: love it or hate it?
This looks amazing! Butternut squash is by far my favorite fall vegetable! I could eat it all day, everyday.
Gwen @ Nutty G Fitness recently posted…Butternut, Bean and Chicken Chili
LOVE LOVE LOVE! I used to really despise quinoa, but now I have opened up to it and I will definitely have to give this recipe a go…Pinned for later! XOXO
She Rocks Fitness recently posted…My Relationship With SQUASH
there is just so much goodness going on here- crunch from the pepitas, tang from the goat cheese, tart and sweet from the cranberries all topped on delicious butternut! You’ve got a winner here! Pinned
rachel at athletic avocado recently posted…Creamy Sweet Potato Spice Oatmeal with Pecans and Cranberries {GF + Vegan!}
Thank you Rachel!!! <3
I still laugh at how my dad pronounces quinoa…even after it being a household staple for 8 years. I actually hate traditional Thanksgiving food (minus the turkey) so I request roasted NOT mashed potatoes (sweet and regular). This looks delish!
Emily @ My Healthyish Life recently posted…Putting On My Oxygen Mask First
Haha I think I’ve gotten on my dad enough to where he says it right now, took him a while to even like it but I think he enjoys it now!!
YUM! That looks so good! I’m trying to be better about cooking for myself and adding more variety into my diet. This would be great to try and would leave me with some leftovers for other nights!
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More recently posted…My Thankful Thursday
Yes I had the perfect amount of leftovers!!
Looks good, but I am super impressed with your photos. Very nicely plated and displayed, looks pro.
Thank you, Tia!!! <3
This dish looks so freaking good. I haven’t found a quinoa recipe that I’ve liked yet, but I’m thinking this might be it since I love all of the other ingredients. Fingers crossed this makes me a quinoa believer. 😉
You could also replace it with literally any grain you prefer – brown rice or farro could be great replacements!
I think that this would be good as a stuffing replacement, too. The quinoa pronunciation struggle is real lol my husband still can’t pronounce it!
Pragati // Simple Medicine recently posted…How to Detox like the Irish: Voya Seaweed Baths
That is such a good idea, Pragati!!
This looks delicious!
Annmarie recently posted…Wild Workout Wednesday: DVRT Track & Ultimate Sandbag Circuit Workout
Thank you, Annmarie! xoxo
This looks fantastic. I love healthy grain salads like this because you can make a big ol batch and pack for lunches throughout the week.
Georgie recently posted…#LadyBoss Interview: Meet Lindsey Creator of Pelistones
Exactly, I love just being able to toss everything together into a giant bowl 😀
This is my kind of salad! Seriously so beautiful and full of delicious things!
Kabocha squash is my favourite fall food! I could eat it everyday for the rest of my life I’m pretty sure.
I love dried fruit! Especially drief figs and mulberries <3
Leah M @ love me, feed me recently posted…apple cardamom crumb muffins
Dried figs are my faaaaaavorite. I recently got a subscription box from BodyOM and straight up inhaled the dried figs.
Goat cheese and cranberries is a killer combination!! I love making quinoa pilafs. So easy, flavorful, and totally spice up any proteins.
Dani @ Dani California Cooks recently posted…Probiotic Chimichurri (vegan + paleo)
Yes for real!! I love throwing all the flavors together
This looks amazing! Definitely a good holiday dish.
Sarah recently posted…Instagram
Thank you, Sarah! <3
I love this idea! Right up my alley and I adore pumpkin seeds. Nice recipe.
Thank you Sara!!
Love this – I am making it tonight! Thank you very much for sharing! All my best, Carly @ TBBloggers
Carlyn Bullock recently posted…Easy to Make This IS the BEST EVER Shrimp and Grits Recipe
Thank YOU Carlyn!! xo
I despiiiise the term “semi-homemade”! Wasn’t there a show on The Food Network that specialized in that category?
When I first had quinoa I was weirded out by the texture. Now idk what “texture” I was talking about…it’s just so amazing and versatile.
Jess @hellotofit recently posted…Easy chicken nachos
ME TOOOO yes, Sandra Lee or whatever her name is haha
This looks delicious and quite unique. I want to try this one for my mom who loves to eat salad.
Thanks for the recipe. It looks appetizing so I’m gonna try it!