Roasted Butternut Squash Quinoa Bowl (Printable)
Nourishing grain bowl with roasted squash, quinoa, fresh vegetables, and sage tahini dressing.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Roasted Squash
01 - 1 medium butternut squash (about 2 lbs), peeled, seeded, and diced into 1-inch cubes
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1/2 tsp sea salt
04 - 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
→ Quinoa
05 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
06 - 2 cups water or vegetable broth
07 - 1/4 tsp salt
→ Grain Bowl Additions
08 - 1 cup baby spinach leaves
09 - 1/2 cup thinly sliced red cabbage
10 - 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
11 - 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas), toasted
12 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
→ Sage Tahini Dressing
13 - 1/3 cup tahini
14 - 1/4 cup warm water (plus more as needed for consistency)
15 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
16 - 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
17 - 1 tsp maple syrup
18 - 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh sage (or 1 tsp dried sage)
19 - 1 garlic clove, minced
20 - 1/4 tsp salt
21 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, toss the squash cubes with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread evenly on the prepared baking sheet. Roast for 25–30 minutes, turning halfway, until golden and tender.
03 - Combine quinoa, water (or broth), and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together tahini, warm water, lemon juice, olive oil, maple syrup, sage, garlic, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy. Add more water if needed for a pourable consistency.
05 - Toast the pumpkin seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2–3 minutes until fragrant and just beginning to brown.
06 - Divide quinoa among four bowls. Top with roasted butternut squash, spinach, red cabbage, cherry tomatoes, and pumpkin seeds. Drizzle generously with sage tahini dressing. Add feta cheese, if using.
07 - Serve warm or at room temperature.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The combination of sweet roasted squash and earthy sage tahini creates flavors that feel sophisticated but come together in under an hour
- Its endlessly adaptable, so you can use whatever vegetables you have on hand and it still tastes amazing
02 -
- The dressing thickens as it sits, so always whisk in a little warm water before drizzling it over the bowls
- Squash cubes that are too small will dry out in the oven, while pieces that are too large wont cook through evenly
03 -
- Dont crowd the squash on the baking sheet or it will steam instead of roast
- Let the dressing sit for 10 minutes before serving to allow the sage flavor to develop fully