Quinoa with Kale and Roasted Butternut Squash

This is a great lunch or dinner dish no matter what season it is. During the summer, serve it chilled on a bed of greens, and during the winter, serve it at room temperature with a cup of hot soup.

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By Darshana Thacker Wendel,

Ingredients

  • 1 small butternut or acorn squash (about 1 pound)
  • 3 cups stemmed and finely chopped kale
  • 1⁄2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
  • 1⁄4 cup fresh lemon juice (from 2 to 3 lemons)
  • 1 small clove garlic, minced
  • Sea salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1⁄2 cup dry/uncooked quinoa
  • 1⁄2 cup dry/uncooked millet
  • 1⁄3 cup slivered almonds
  • 1⁄4 cup raisins

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F. Cut the squash in half and scoop out and discard the seeds. Place the squash cut-side down on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until tender, 50 to 60 minutes. Set aside until completely cool. Peel off the
skin and cut the squash into 1⁄2-inch cubes.
  • Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the kale, parsley, lemon juice, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste. Let stand for 30 minutes.
  • Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add the quinoa and millet and return to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand, covered, for at least 10 minutes. When the liquid is absorbed, remove the cover and let cool.
  • While the grains cook, place the almonds in a medium skillet and toast over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until lightly browned and fragrant, 5 to 7 minutes. Immediately transfer the nuts to a plate to cool.
  • Add the squash, quinoa-millet mixture, and raisins to the kale mixture. Stir gently to combine. Taste and adjust the seasonings. Top with the toasted almonds. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Comments (3)

(4 from 1 vote)

Recipe Rating

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Jean

For Judy, It says stemmed kale, not steamed.

Beth S

I went into this knowing that my family isn't crazy about raw kale, so I massaged the heck out of the kale (after adding lemon, garlic, etc.) and added the grains and squash hot. Otherwise, I followed the recipe exactly. My husband did not like this at all, but I thought it was quite good. The millet quinoa combination is fantastic and the flavors and textures work really well together. I'm deducting a star only because my husband really didn't like it.

Judy

The recipe says steamed kale. If you steam it in an instant pot for 1 minute and release the steam immediately it makes the most amazingly soft kale! Even my husband who doesn't like kale likes it steamed in the IP.

About the Author

Headshot of Darshana Thacker

About the Author

Darshana Thacker Wendel

Darshana Thacker Wendel is a whole-food, plant-based chef and former culinary projects manager for Forks Over Knives. A graduate of the Natural Gourmet Institute, she is the author of Forks Over Knives: Flavor! She created the recipes for Forks Over Knives Family and was a lead recipe contributor to the New York Times bestseller The Forks Over Knives Plan. Her recipes have been published in The Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Cookbook, Forks Over Knives—The Cookbook, Forks Over Knives: The Plant-Based Way to Health, and LA Yoga magazine online. Visit DarshanasKitchen.com and follow her on Instagram for more.
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