Roasted Butternut Squash & Rice Salad

We have end-of-season picnics for my son’s flag football team.  This makes enough to serve plenty of hungry boys and their families.

          Dolores Deifel                                                                   Mundelein, Illinos

Roasted Butternut Squash & Rice Salad Recipe  

Roasted Butternut Squash & Rice Salad

3 Tbsp. brown sugar

3 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1 Tbsp. kosher salt

1 medium butternut squash (2 ½ to 3 lbs.), peeled and cut into ¾ inch cubes

2 cups uncooked jasmine rice

2 large sweet red peppers, cut into ½ inch pieces

1 cup pine nuts, toasted

6 green onions, thinly sliced

3 Tbsp. snipped fresh dill

3 Tbsp. coarsely chopped fresh parsley

Dressing:   ½ cup olive oil

3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar

1 tsp. kosher salt

¼ tsp. pepper

In a large bowl, combine the brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, oil and salt.  Add squash; toss to coat.  Transfer to a greased, foil-lined 15x10x1 inch baking pan.  Bake at 450 F. for 25-30 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally.  Cool completely.

Meanwhile, cook rice according to package directions.  Remove from the heat; cool completely.

In a large bowl, combine the red peppers, pine nuts, green onions, dill, parsley, squash and rice.  In a small bowl, whisk the dressing ingredients.  Pour over salad; toss to coat.  Serve at room temperature.  Cover and refrigerate leftovers.            12 servings (3/4 cup each)

 

(Recipe for Roasted Butternut Squash & Rice Salad came from Taste of Home, 2013)