Honeynut Squash with Buckwheat Salad

This recipe combines the natural sweetness of roasted honeynut squash with the earthy richness of a buckwheat salad, generously dotted with toasted pecans and plump cranberries. Honeynut squash is a relatively new squash variety. It looks like a mini butternut squash, has sweet, creamy orange flesh and edible skin. Honeynut squash is easy to prepare as you can simply slice it in half, scoop out the seeds and roast it. It’s a perfect choice for a hearty side or a satisfying vegetarian main course. Whether you’re looking for a show-stopping centerpiece for a holiday meal or an elegant weeknight dinner, this recipe is a wonderful way to savor the taste of fall.

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Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

Roasted Honeynut Squash

• 4 honeynut squash or 2-3 large butternut squash
• extra-virgin olive oil to coat the squash before roasting
• Kosher or sea salt, to taste

Buckwheat Salad

• 1 cup buckwheat groats cooked, following the directions on the packaging
• 1/2 cup pecans lightly toasted and roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries roughly chopped
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons champagne vinegar or sherry vinegar
• 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup or to taste
• Kosher or sea salt, to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• chopped fresh basil or parsley for garnish

Instructions

Roasted Honeynut Squash

• Preheat the oven to 450°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a large sharp knife to cut the squash in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds. Place the squash on the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Use your hands to rub the oil all over the squash, then place cut side down on the baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the squash are very soft and the skin begins to wrinkle. Set the squash aside to cool.

Buckwheat Salad

• Cook the buckwheat groats according to the package instructions. Drain the buckwheat and place in a bowl. Add the chopped pecans and cranberries to the cooked buckwheat and toss to combine.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, maple syrup, salt and pepper. Pour as much as you like of the vinaigrette over the buckwheat salad and gently toss. You can stuff the buckwheat salad into the butternut squash or serve as a separate dish. Place the stuffed squash on a serving platter and garnish with chopped fresh herbs.

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