Butternut Squash Couscous Salad

Butternut Squash Couscous Salad is a healthy and flavorful dish that features tender roasted butternut squash, nutty pearl couscous, and tangy dried cranberries. It’s simple to make in just 30 minutes for the perfect side dish or light lunch.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

You are going to love how easy this Butternut Squash Couscous Salad is to make. It only requires a few basic ingredients and can be ready in less than 30 minutes.

I’m always looking for ways to add more veggies into my meals, and this salad does not disappoint. It’s packed with butternut squash and spinach for a healthy side dish or satisfying light meal.

My favorite part about this salad is how bright and colorful it is! It’s perfect to brighten up those fall and winter days, when butternut squash is in season.

If you’re looking for more fall or winter salad recipes, try this Fall Kale Salad with Sweet Potatoes or this Apple Arugula Salad with Maple Vinaigrette.

What is Pearl Couscous

Pearl couscous, also known as Israeli couscous, is a type of small pasta made from semolina flour. It differs from regular couscous, which is much smaller and typically made from durum wheat. Pearl couscous has a chewy texture like pasta and a slightly nutty flavor. It’s often used in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes as a base for salads, stews, or as a side dish. Read more about the different types of couscous.

Ingredients

• Couscous: pearl couscous, also known as Israeli couscous is the base for this salad.
• Butternut Squash: diced butternut squash, cut into ½” cubes.
• Olive Oil: extra virgin olive oil for roasting the squash.
• Baby Spinach: roughly chopped fresh baby spinach.
• Dried Cranberries: dried cranberries add a pop of color and tangy flavor.
• Sea Salt: to make the flavors pop.
• Apple Cider Vinaigrette: extra virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, minced garlic, and sea salt.

Step-By-Step Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Place the butternut squash on a large baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with sea salt. Toss to combine. Bake for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway, until tender.
2. Meanwhile, cook the couscous according to package directions. Set aside.
3. In a small jar or bowl, shake or whisk together all the vinaigrette ingredients until combined. Taste and season with sea salt, as needed.
4. In a large bowl, toss the couscous, roasted butternut squash, spinach, and dried cranberries together. Drizzle with the vinaigrette and toss one more time to combine. Serve warm or cold, and enjoy!

Expert Tip: To store, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to three days. The salad may dry out a bit as it sits, so you can add a drizzle of olive oil to freshen it up before serving.

Variations

This Butternut Squash Couscous Salad recipe is highly customizable, so feel free to experiment with different ingredients and flavor combinations. You can add grilled chicken or shrimp for protein, or mix in some chopped herbs like parsley or cilantro for added freshness.

• Add some spice. If you like things spicy, you can add some crushed red pepper flakes to the vinaigrette or sprinkle some cayenne pepper over the roasted butternut squash before baking.
• Swap out the spinach. If you don't have baby spinach on hand, you can use any leafy greens you like. Arugula, kale, or mixed greens would all work well in this salad.
• Give it some crunch. Toasted nuts or seeds would add a nice crunch to this salad. Try adding some chopped almonds, pecans, walnuts or pumpkin seeds.
• Use a different grain. While pearl couscous is delicious in this salad, you can use other grains, like quinoa or farro.
• Add some cheese. Crumbled feta or goat cheese would add a nice tangy flavor to this salad. Just sprinkle some on top before serving.
• Try a different dressing. While the apple cider vinaigrette is delicious, you can experiment with different homemade or store-bought dressings. Try a lemon vinaigrette, balsamic vinaigrette, or a honey mustard dressing.
• Make it gluten free. To make this salad gluten free, simply use gluten-free pearl couscous.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this salad as a side dish with roasted chicken, grilled fish, or even at a holiday meal. It’s also great as a light lunch. To make it into a satisfying meal, you could add a protein like shrimp, chicken or tofu.

This is a great salad to bring to a potluck since it can be served at room temperature or cold. The delicious flavors and bright colors will make it a big hit!

To meal prep, simply make a big batch at the beginning of the week and portion it out into containers for easy lunches throughout the week.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

More Butternut Squash Recipes

Are you looking for more butternut squash recipe? Try one of these favorites!

• Creamy Butternut Squash Soup
• Butternut Squash Pasta with Pancetta
• Butternut Squash Lasagna Rolls
• Roasted Butternut Squash with Brussels Sprouts and Dried Cranberries

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