It’s absolutely freezing outside, but that doesn’t mean you have to reach for the Dauphinoise quite yet. Monique from Skinny Minny, is back with another amazing to keep us trim and healthy. This week it’s all about the warm winter salad.

A beautiful autumn salad that is both healthy and comforting, I like to enjoy it when the butternut squash is still warm and if you are feeling a little naughty you can add a spash of sage butter which enhances the flavour and butteryness of the squash and adds a gorgeous woody flavour.

Ingredients:

x1 Butternut squash sliched into wedges

x1 Handful of baby leaf watercress

110g Pomegranate seeds

90g Pine nuts

90g Ricotta

Olive oil

Salt & Pepper

Sage butter (optional):

20g Fresh sage

90g Unsalted butter

Salt

1/2 tbs Lemon juice

Method:

Preheat fan oven to 220C. Cut the butternut squash in half, remove the seeds and slice into wedges.

Arrange on a baking tray, splash with some olive oil (around x2 Tbsp should be fine) and sprinkle with salt & pepper.

Cook for 35-40 mins or until the squash starts to brown (I like it a little burnt in patches as this adds a caramel flavour). Leave to cool slightly.

Arrange the watercress in the bottom of a salad bowl, add the wedges of squash and sprinkle over the pomegranate seeds.

Using x2 teaspoons, spoon out the ricotta and gently drop teaspoons of it into the bowl over the squash and seeds.

Toast the pine nuts under the grill until lightly brown and add to the bowl.

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If you fancy adding the sage butter:

Melt the butter in a pan until it starts to go brown, remove from the heat to add the sage leaves, pinch of salt and the lemon juice, then return to the heat for a couple of minutes to simmer.

Pour into a small jug and to the salad, to taste.

If you don’t want to use the butter, the salad is lovely and moist so can be eaten as it is, but if you prefer a splash of something then you could use balsamic vinegar.

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Perfect for weekday lunches or autumn evenings, by itself, or with some leftover Sunday lunch lamb.

For more of Monique’s recipes visit: skinny-minny.com 

Jamila x