Fall has begun and I'm craving some hearty and healthy food. I love this idea for a salad using seasonal fall ingredients. Roasted butternut squash and brown rice pair up nicely in this vegan salad. Arugula can be seasonal in both spring and fall as it grows quickly in the cool months of the year. I like to use baby arugula as it is a bit more tender and less pungent than the full grown arugula.
This dish while being totally tasty and Foodgasm worthy, is also very healthy and chock full of vitamins and minerals. The brown rice adds a gluten-free fiber that is also very filling ans satisfying. This salad can be eaten alone or paired with a great meal, vegan or otherwise. I do hope you enjoy this hearty sensual salad as much as I do.
Brown Rice Salad with
Roasted Butternut Squash and Arugula
VEGETARIAN • VEGAN • GLUTEN-FREE
Ingredients
2 ½ cups peeled and diced
butternut squash
2 Tablespoons olive oil
Dash kosher salt
Dash fresh cracked pepper
2 cups cooked brown rice
(room temperature)
2 cups thinly chopped
baby arugula
½ cup toasted pine nuts
1 ½ Tablespoons chopped
shallots
1 Tablespoon sesame seed oil
2 Tablespoons wheat-free tamari sauce (use for gluten-free version) or soy sauce
2 teaspoons agave syrup
2 Tablespoons fresh squeezed
lemon juice
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon kosher salt or to
taste
½ teaspoon fresh cracked
pepper
Directions
Pre-heat
the oven to 475° F. Line a heavy-duty rimmed baking sheet with parchment or a
silpat mat. In a medium bowl, toss the butternut squash with the olive oil to
coat. Season with the salt and pepper.
Put
the butternut squash onto the baking sheet and make sure there are evenly
spread out. Roast until the squash is browned on bottom, 15-20 minutes. Flip
squash and bake 5 more minutes till fork tender. Set aside to cool.
Meanwhile
mix in a large bowl the brown rice, arugula and pine nuts. In small bowl whisk
together the dressing with shallots, sesame seed oil, tamari or soy sauce, agave, lemon
juice, cumin, salt and pepper.
Toss
the dressing into the rice squash mixture till thoroughly combined. Add any
additional salt and pepper to your liking. Serve and enjoy.
