Looking for a super healthy, delicious recipe? This Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad is packed with nutrients and flavor!

Quinoa is one of my favorite ingredients and I really should feature it more. I make tons of quinoa salads but I don’t blog enough of them! This cozy dish uses some of my favorite winter ingredients: roasted butternut squash, kale, and my quick and easy maple vinaigrette.

This is one of the best salads I’ve made all year and it’s easy to customize. Don’t have kale? Substitute spinach. Don’t like feta? Try goat cheese. Don’t have pecans? Try almonds.

I resisted the urge to add pomegranate arils simply because I put them in EVERYTHING in the winter but you have them on hand, they would be delicious in this dish.

I love a chilled salad even in the winter because I’m quite lazier about food than people think that I am. A big healthy grain salad like this is so handy to have on hand for lunch! I hope you love this recipe as much as I do!

Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad

1 cup quinoa 
1 butternut squash
2 cups kale
1 cup feta, crumbled
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup pecans, toasted and chopped
6 oz feta cheese, crumbled 
Salt, pepper
Maple vinaigrette, recipe follows

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut the ends off of a butternut squash. Peel, then cut in half and scoop out the seeds. Slice, then cut into cubes. Toss cubed squash with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast on a baking sheet for about 30 minutes or until fork-tender. Let cool. 
2. Cook quinoa according to package directions. Let cool. Rinse 3-4 kale leaves and pat dry. Remove stem and cut kale into small pieces.
3. Toss cooked quinoa with roasted butternut squash, kale, feta cheese, dried cranberries, and toasted pecans. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Add maple vinaigrette if serving immediately; if refrigerating salad, use half of the dressing and toss with the remaining vinaigrette right before serving.

Maple Vinaigrette

2 Tbsp champagne vinegar
4 Tbsp olive oil
3 Tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp Dijon mustard
Sea salt, freshly ground pepper 

1. Whisk together ingredients. Taste and add more salt/pepper if needed.