Roasted Butternut Squash Winter Salad

For the Salad:

• 2 cups cooked quinoa
• 2 cups butternut squash, cubed
• 2 Tbls La Preferida Olive Oil
• 2 Tbls Organic La Preferida Agave 
• 1 cup La Preferida Purple Hominy, drained
• 1 cup chopped kale
• 15 oz can La Preferida Kidney Beans, drained
• 1/4 cup fresh dill, chopped
• 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1 Tbls La Preferida Olive Oil
• 2 Tbls La Preferida Organic Diced Green Chiles
• sea salt and pepper to taste

For the Vinaigrette:

• 1/2 white onion, sliced
• 1 cup La Preferida Olive Oil
• 2 cups apple cider
• 3 Tbls apple cider vinegar
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 tsp sea salt

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Cook quinoa according to package instructions. Set aside in a bowl.

Toss butternut squash in 2 Tablespoons of olive oil, salt, pepper, and agave. Spread on baking sheet and roast for 25-30 minutes.

Coat pumpkin seeds in 1 Tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Roast on baking sheet, lined with wax paper, for 3-5 minutes in the oven.

Prepare vinaigrette by sautéing onion in 1 Tbsp olive oil from the cup measured, for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally until browned. Add apple cider and cook until it has reduced by half over medium heat, Remove from heat.

Pour apple cider vinegar into a blender along with onion, garlic, and salt and blend on lowest speed, gradually adding the cup of olive oil until emulsified.

In a large bowl, combine quinoa, squash, kale, hominy, beans, dill, pumpkin seeds, and green chiles. Slowly add dressing and fold into salad. Taste for seasoning.