The citrus-y sage-y vinaigrette, though!
This won’t come as a shocker, but sometimes I feel like my life wouldn’t be right without spell check, fuzzy socks, or ginormous plates of greens. After this cake, these muffins, and this pudding, I was feeling like my nutrient equation needs a little balancing. And by “a little,” I mean I needed to go find my soul in a pile of superfood. Before my blood sugar got carried away, started its own glycemic commune in my mind fibers, held my body hostage forEVAH, and words and actions transpired that couldn’t be undone or unstated.
What can I say? I’m sensitive to the sultry, addictive ways of sugar – unrefined or otherwise. Can’t stop, won’t stop until I take it one (to one thousand) carb(s) too far.
But looky here, I found it! My soul-balance, that is. Somewhere underneath a hearty slice of roasted butternut squash and next to a stash of lentils, I got that ish! Typically, somewhere between bite three and the finish of a plate like this, I begin to feel like there is justice in this life. Can you relate? Tell me you crave spinach!
This time of year, I’m all about the raw//cooked hybrid salads. I love roasted fall vegetables on a bed of fresh raw greens, with some sort of warmly-spiced vinaigrette, along with all sorts of cheese, nuts, and dried fruit.
I’m a sucker for varying flavors and textures, and am all about a nice fresh salad. For those times you’re in the mood for a pile of greens AND want to feel full to the brim, this salad’s your jam.
The hearty carby butternut squash and lentils add substance and make the salad filling without putting you in a food coma. The cranberries add a nice sweet and tang, and that citrusy, sage-y balsamic vinaigrette puts a unique spin on the whole thing. Feta (or perchance goat cheese)? Always a good thing!
Eating recommendation: Consume using a knife. It just kicks the whole experience up a notch!
Additions/substitutions? Options aplenty. You can replace the butternut squash with any ol’ squash, or sweet potato. Sub out the lentils, sub in brown rice. Use blue cheese or goat cheese instead of feta. Walnuts, pistachios, sunflower seeds in place of pecans. By golly, you can add chicken, or do as I do when I’m lazy and in need of protein and #putaneggonit.
Fall salad for your soul!
Roasted Butternut Squash and Pear Salad with Lentils
Ingredients
Spinach Salad:
- 1 small butternut squash peeled and chopped into 1/2-inch slices
- 5 ounces baby spinach
- 1 large bosc pear sliced
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries
- 1/3 cup feta cheese
- 1 cup cooked lentils or more for serving
Maple-Orange-Sage Dressing:
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 2 leaves sage finely chopped
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon salt to taste
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients for the dressing to a small blender. Blend until completely smooth and creamy. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Coat the butternut squash slices with olive oil and place on a baking sheet. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, flipping half-way through, or until butternut squash is cooked through and browned.
- Add the spinach, pear, dried cranberries, feta, and lentils to a serving bowl. Drizzle in desired amount of vinaigrette and toss until everything is coated. Serve salad on plates or bowls, along with slices of roasted butternut squash.
this looks so good! i definitely have to make that dressing.
Such a beautiful salad, and what I’m really into is that maple orange sage dressing…I want that on all my salads from here until eternity….
Ugh, these photos are gorgeous, girl! I want that plate. And everything on it. That maple orange dressing is EVERYTHING.
I’m the same way with sugar. Completely addicted. So it always feels nice to get a little green and roasted veggie in my mouth. This must happen very soon!
I hope you have a great weekend, love! xo
What a beautiful salad Julia! So gorgeous.
P.S. I don’t want to imagine life without spell check. That would be a nightmare!!
This is the perfect cure for drinking a super large pumpkin latte as well as your muffins!
That looks lovely! Can’t get enough of my Bosc pears! I’m obsessed!
This salad is so gorgeous! Love the rich flavors – pinning 🙂
This salad is very healthy. Great!!
This looks like a wonderful salad for Thanksgiving! Such pretty colors in there!
This salad is gorgeous!! And I seem to always have lentils that need to be used up … so double win on that!! haha
Have a wonderful wonderful weekend!!
omg your photo! love this recipe for Thanksgiving idea. Pinned….
I’m the same way – I LOVE sugar and I can definitely get carried away with it. Even though I do mostly healthier baking, too many date balls can still leave me feeling over-sugared!
The fall flavours in this salad are delicious!
sometimes I’m skeptical for salads to be considered dinner bc they don’t fill me up but this salad does not disappoint! I could see myself eating this with chicken while wearing fuzzy socks by the fireplace!