Butternut Squash/Sweet Potato Quinoa Salad

It’s been a great weekend, and the gorgeous weather made me want to end it with a seasonally appropriate meal. It was perfect timing, considering I’d been wanting to give this Smitten Kitchen recipe a try for the last couple of weeks.

I wasn’t able to find farro at the store (not even Whole Foods), so I opted for quinoa instead, and that turned out well. Also, since I couldn’t hunt down the ricotta salata cheese that the original recipe recommended, I subbed feta. And, since I didn’t have quite enough squash on hand, I used one cup squash and two sweet potatoes. Despite all the modifications, this recipe turned out amazingly, and I can’t wait to make it again.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butternut squash (cut into 3/4-inch cubes)
• Two sweet potatoes (cut into 3/4-inch cubes)
• Olive oil
• Ground pepper and salt (to taste)
• 1 cup uncooked quinoa
• 6 ounces feta cheese (crumbled)
• 1 Tablespoon sherry vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon table salt
• 1 Tablespoon water
• 1/2 teaspoon white sugar
• 1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
• 1/3 cup toasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds)

Directions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. On a baking sheet, toss sweet potato and squash cubes in olive oil, pepper, and salt. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until tender.
• While squash and potatoes are cooking, whisk together sherry vinegar, water, table salt, and sugar until sugar and salt dissolve. Stir in onion, cover, and put in fridge to marinate.
• Boil quinoa in two cups water. After the water comes to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook until water is absorbed (about 10 minutes).
• Once quinoa is cooked and veggies are roasted, combine squash, potatoes, quinoa, onions (with vinegar), cheese, and pepitas in a large bowl. Eat immediately or save it for later (this dish keeps well in the fridge for a few days).

Here’s to great meals on relaxing fall evenings spent with my favorite boys. Doesn’t get much better than this!