Roast Ottoman Squash & Spiced Lentil Salad
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Prep: 25 mins
Cook: 35 mins
Coated in a smashing spice mix that’s straight out of Constantinople, this roast squash salad is a winner of an autumn warmer, studded with pomegranate jewels and nutty lentils and folded through fluffy warn quinoa.
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495 kcal
(per portion)
Ingredients you'll need
  • 1 onion squash
  • 1 red onion
  • 1 tsp sumach
  • 1 tsp fennel seeds
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • A pinch of dried chilli flakes
  • 75g quinoa
  • 1 pomegranate
  • 400g tin of green lentils
  • 50g rocket
From your kitchen
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Sea salt
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • 150ml boiling water
Step by step this way
  • 1.

    Heat your oven to 200°C/Fan 180°C/Gas 6. Halve the squash and scoop out the seeds (see our tip for what to do with them below). Peel and slice into wedges 1cm thick. Put the squash in a bowl.

  • 2.

    Measure out 1 tsp each of the sumach, fennel and cumin seeds. Add to the squash with a pinch of chilli flakes (they’re spicy, so use as much or as little as you prefer) and 1 tbsp oil. Season. Toss the squash to coat in the oil. Spread out in a large roasting tin. Roast for 20 mins.

  • 3.

    While the squash roasts, peel and slice the onion into thick wedges. After 20 mins in the oven, take the squash out and scatter the onion into the tin around the wedges. Slide back into the oven and roast for 10 mins, till the squash and onion are tender.

  • 4.

    While the veg roast, tip the quinoa into a sieve and rinse for a few mins. Tip into a small pan. Pour in 150ml boiling water. Add a pinch of salt. Cover. Simmer for 10-15 mins till the water has been absorbed and the quinoa is tender.

  • 5.

    While the quinoa cooks, drain and rinse the lentils. When the squash has roasted for 40 mins in total, tip the lentils into the roasting tin. Roast for a further 5 mins to warm the lentils through.

  • 6.

    While the lentils cook, halve the pomegranate around its middle. Hold one half in your hand, cut-side down, over a bowl. Whack firmly with a wooden spoon. The seeds should tumble out through your fingers into the bowl. Repeat with the other half to get all the seeds out. If they don’t come out easily, pull the pomegranate open and pick the seeds out.

  • 7.

    Take the roasting tin out of the oven. Add the quinoa, rocket and pomegranate seeds. Season well. Toss to mix and heap on warmed plates. Serve straight away.

  • Tip

    Spicy seeds
    Roast the seeds from your squash to make a munchy snack. Clean off any squash threads or flesh, then rinse and pat dry. Spread out on a baking tray. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with your leftover chilli flakes. Roast at 180°C/Fan 160°C/Gas 4 for 10-15 mins.

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