Roasted Butternut with Quinoa, Olives & Almonds
Roasted butternut squash served with quinoa, olives & almonds has become one of my favorite dishes to make for a easy, healthy & delicious lunch or dinner. It’s also amazing as a side dish!
Diced butternut squash roasted until caramelised and tossed with fluffy quinoa, crunchy roasted almonds, black olives and fresh arugula – could it possibly be better? I don’t think so… this amazing flavor combination is simple yet incredible. Mixing olives with roasted butternut has become one of my favorite things to do – and the fresh arugula enhances the flavour perfectly.
AND… this delicious dinner dish is also a well balanced meal. It contains good carbs, healthy fats and healthy plant-based protein.
This recipe is naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free & plant-based.
Ingredients:
-500g diced butternut squash
-1/4 cup dry quinoa (or 1/2 cup cooked)
-1/2 cup raw almonds (or dry roasted)
-1/2 cup pitted black olives
-1 tablespoon cold-pressed macadamia nut oil (or another good cooking oil)
-sea salt & cracked black pepper (to taste)
-a big handful fresh arugula/ rocket
-a squeeze of fresh lemon juice
(serves 2 as a meal, serves 4-6 as a side dish)
Instructions:
-preheat your oven to 180 degree’s Celsius (360 F)
-toss the macadamia nut oil, diced butternut, sea salt & cracked black pepper together on a roasting tray and roast for 30-60 minutes until soft & caramelised (depending on thickness of butternut)
-if you’re using raw almonds, you can dry roast them by placing them in a glass dish and roasting them in the oven for 10-15 minutes
-remove the almonds from the oven after 15 minutes and leave to cool
-rinse quinoa under running water using a sieve
-bring 1/4 cup dry quinoa to a boil in a pot with about 3/4 to 1 cup water and then simmer for 15-20 minutes over a low heat until fluffy
-halve and pit the olives and put aside
-once soft and caramelised, remove the butternut from the oven
-gently toss the butternut with the cooked quinoa, pitted olives & roasted almonds
-squeeze a little lemon juice over the mix and serve with a big handful of fresh arugula
-serve hot or cool (delicious both ways!)
-eat & enjoy every bite!
I hope you love this recipe as much as I do!
Made with love by Liezl Jayne xo
