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Roasted Butternut Squash, Puy Lentil and Spinach Salad with Pumpkin Seeds

Golden roasted butternut squash with Puy lentils, cherry tomatoes, red onion and spinach, finished with toasted pumpkin seeds. A vegan lunch with 22g of protein and 15g of fibre, ready in 45 minutes.

Lunch

45

Serves 2

A blue-rimmed bowl of roasted butternut squash cubes with cherry tomatoes, diced red onion and baby spinach leaves, scattered with pumpkin seeds and chia seeds

Ingredients

  • 400g/14oz peeled butternut squash (from a squash of about 650g/1lb 7oz), cut into 2cm/¾in cubes
  • 2 tbsp (30ml) extra virgin olive oil: 1 tbsp for roasting, 1 tbsp for the dressing
  • Half a tsp smoked paprika, 2 pinches of salt and some black pepper (for the squash and the dressing)
  • 1 x 250g (9oz) pouch plain cooked Puy or green lentils (not flavoured with stock)
  • 150g/5oz cherry tomatoes, halved
  • Half a small red onion (about 60g/2oz), finely diced
  • 60g/2oz baby spinach
  • 25g/1oz/3 tbsp pumpkin seeds
  • 1 tsp chia seeds (about 5g)
  • 1 tbsp (15ml) red wine vinegar

Method

  1. Heat the oven to 220C (200C fan, 425F). Toss the squash with 1 tablespoon of the oil, the smoked paprika, salt and pepper, spread it in one layer over a large baking tray, about 30x40cm (12x16in), and roast for 25 to 30 minutes, turning once, until tender and browned at the edges.
  2. While the squash roasts, toast the pumpkin seeds in a dry frying pan (skillet) over a medium heat for 3 minutes, until they start to pop. Whisk the remaining tablespoon of oil with the vinegar and a pinch of salt and pepper.
  3. Warm the lentils in the pouch as the packet says, or use them at room temperature, and toss them with the onion and half the dressing.
  4. Divide the spinach between two bowls, spoon over the lentils, then top with the warm squash and tomatoes. Drizzle over the rest of the dressing and scatter with the pumpkin and chia seeds.
  5. To take for lunch, keep the squash and lentils in a covered container in the fridge for up to 2 days and add the spinach, seeds and dressing just before eating. Not suitable for freezing.

Why it works

A bowl gives you about 22g of protein and 15g of fibre for 534 calories, from the lentils, squash and pumpkin seeds.

Why roast the squash. A hot oven caramelises the edges of butternut squash and brings out its natural sweetness, which balances the earthy lentils and sharp dressing. Butternut squash is also rich in beta-carotene, which the body turns into vitamin A.

Why Puy lentils. Puy and green lentils hold their shape when cooked, so they suit salads better than red lentils, which turn soft. A ready-cooked pouch saves 25 minutes.

Why it is tagged for blood sugar. With 49g of carbohydrate and plenty of fibre and protein from the lentils, this salad is less likely to cause a sharp rise in blood sugar.

Free from gluten, nuts and soya as written; check the lentil pouch label. Pumpkin seeds are a good source of magnesium and zinc. For another lentil salad, try the roasted beetroot, radish and lentil salad.