At the farmers’ market a couple of weeks ago, I picked up two butternut squash that were each about the length of my hand. Since I love roasting butternut with a touch of lemon, I was considering cooking them in that tried and true (but unimaginative) manner when I got the idea to roast one of the squash and mix it in with my favorite grain/seed, quinoa.
The results were a light and lemony side dish that goes with practically anything.
I served it with baked tofu, gravy, steamed broccoli, and a salad for a sort of traditional American meal, but the lemony flavor makes a great accompaniment to everything from Thai food to Italian. I’m considering making it a part of my Thanksgiving dinner this year.
Lemony Quinoa with Butternut Squash
The pine nuts really complement the lemon flavor, but if you decide to leave them out, you can deduct about 30 calories and 3 grams of fat per serving.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 4
Ingredients
- 10 ounces butternut squash (about 2 cups)
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 cup quinoa
- 1/4 cup chopped shallots
- 4 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
- 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice
- salt and freshly ground pepper , to taste
- 2 tablespoons (about 7/10 ounce) lightly toasted pine nuts (optional)
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh chives (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F. Cut the squash in half and scrape out the seeds and strings (using a grapefruit spoon makes this easier). Peel and cut into 1/2-inch cubes and toss with the 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Place them on a non-stick baking sheet (or silicone mat), sprinkle with a little salt and pepper, and bake for 15 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Place the quinoa in a fine-mesh strainer and rinse it well and allow to drain. Heat a deep, non-stick pot. Add shallots and garlic and cook, stirring, until shallots soften slightly. Add the quinoa and toast it until it has dried out and begins to exude a toasty aroma. Add the squash along with the thyme and vegetable broth. Reduce the heat to low and cover. Cook, stirring once or twice, until all broth is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Stir in the lemon peel and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and add more lemon juice if needed.
- Serve with toasted pine nuts and chives sprinkled on top.
Notes
Servings: 4 large side-dish servings
Nutrition Facts
Lemony Quinoa with Butternut Squash
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 240
Calories from Fat 51
% Daily Value*
Fat 5.7g9%
Sodium 292mg13%
Carbohydrates 41.2g14%
Fiber 5.2g22%
Sugar 1.7g2%
Protein 8.4g17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutritional info is approximate.
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Tori
November 9, 2013 at 5:05 pmI was out of quinoa so I substituted a very nice gluten free wild rice which I par cooked before adding it into the large pot with all other ingredients. This was a smash and we all loved it. I served it on a bed of wilted romaine (fresh from my organic garden) topped with toasted organic raw pumpkin seeds as I am a vegan and this is a main dish for me. Yumm!
I plan on trying with the quinoa next week. Thanks for this delicious way to utilize healthy squash!
Melissa
December 20, 2017 at 1:59 pmI love this recipe. I made it for Thanksgiving and have been craving it for the last week! Off to make myself a double batch for lunches…
Carrie
November 27, 2019 at 1:46 pmHow would you make this with frozen butternut squash?