During the fall, it can be harder to enjoy fresh salad because many of the ingredients commonly found in salad are out of season. But don’t worry! This autumn twist on a summer salad allows you to take advantage of the fall harvest while enjoying rich, satisfying flavors.
It’s loaded with nutritious ingredients, including butternut squash, romaine lettuce, feta cheese, lentils and vinegar. It also happens to provide you with more than half of your daily fiber goals and 1/3 of your daily potassium goals.
Indulge in this salad to ensure you’re giving your body the essential nutrients it needs to get through the fall season with optimal health. You can eat it by itself or combine it with nutritious side dishes for a satisfying, fulfilling meal. This recipe makes one serving of Healthy Autumn Glow Salad. Double or triple the recipe as needed to feed your family or guests.
Ingredients
- 1 butternut squash (approx. 2 lbs.), peeled and cubed
- 2 cups romaine lettuce, roughly chopped
- 1 Tbs. olive oil
- ½ tsp. kosher salt, divided
- ½ cup dried green lentils
- 1/3 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- 1 Tbs. crumbled feta cheese
- ½ tsp. red wine vinegar
- ½ tsp. cumin
Directions
- Preheat oven to 400⁰ F.
- Place squash, salt, pepper, and oil into a bowl and toss to combine.
- Spread the squash mixture on a foil-lined baking sheet.
- Bake squash mixture at 400⁰ F for between 28 and 30 minutes. Toss halfway through baking time.
- While the squash is in the oven, put lentils in a medium saucepan and cover entirely with water. The water should reach 3 inches above the lentils.
- Bring the lentils to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until lentils are tender (about 20 minutes). Be careful not to overcook the lentils or they will be mushy.
- Drain the water from the lentils, then add ¼ tsp. salt, red wine vinegar and cumin to the lentils. Allow the mixture to cool for 10 minutes.
- Place romaine lettuce on a plate, then top with butternut squash mixture, feta cheese and cooked lentils.
- Drizzle the salad with Tahini dressing or your preferred choice of salad dressing.
This salad is very filling as a main dish. The legumes add plenty of filling protein, while the squash and lettuce deliver fiber and immune-boosting vitamins. Cumin adds a bit of warmth and full-bodied fall flavor to this healthy dish. When you’re heading into cold and flu season, it’s important to give your body the nutrients it needs to fight off illnesses effectively. Eating nutritious meals may also help you maintain a healthy weight, which can further support optimal immune function.
If you need a little extra help with weight loss, Newport Medical and Wellness Center offers personalized weight loss programs that rely on healthy meal replacement options and personal training programs. The goal of the program is to help guide participants to learn weight management techniques and to improve their overall coordinate, strength, balance and health.
