Central Valley Harvest Bake
Ingredients:
3 cups Fresh butternut squash, peeled, seeded, cubed ½”
2 tsp Extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup Fresh red onions, peeled, diced
2 ¼ tsp Fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded, diced
¼ cup Fresh red bell pepper, seeded, diced
1 Tbsp Red quinoa, dry
¼ cup Canned low-sodium black beans, drained, rinsed
3 ½ tsp Fresh oregano, chopped
2 ½ Tbsp Sweetened applesauce
¼ tsp Kosher salt
2 Tbsp Fresh lime juice (optional)
3/4 cup Low-fat granola, no fruit
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 °F.
2. In a large bowl, toss squash in 1 tsp olive oil. Spread onto a large baking sheet sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Roast in oven at 350 °F for 30 minutes or until tender and lightly brown around the edges. Remove and keep warm.
3. In a small bowl, toss onions, jalapeno peppers, and red peppers with remaining olive oil. Spread vegetables evenly onto a baking sheet sprayed with a nonstick cooking spray and roast in oven at 350 °F for 15 minutes or until tender and lightly brown around the edges. Check the vegetables often, they will brown very quickly. Remove and keep warm.
4. Rinse quinoa in a fine mesh strainer until water runs clear, not cloudy. Combine quinoa and ½ cup water in a small pot. Cover and bring to a boil. Turn heat down to low and simmer until water is completely absorbed, about 10-15 minutes. When done, quinoa will be soft and a white ring will pop out of the kernel. The white ring will appear only when it is fully cooked. Fluff with a fork. Set aside. A rice cooker may be used with the same quantity of quinoa and water.
5. In a large bowl, combine squash, black beans, quinoa, and oregano. Preparation Time: 45 minutes
6. Mix in applesauce, salt, and optional fresh lime juice.
7. Add onions, jalapeno peppers, and red peppers. Mix well.
8. Pour mixture into an 8” x 8” nonstick baking pan. Press gently to pack. Sprinkle granola evenly over the top of mixture. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 °F. Granola should be lightly browned. Serve hot.
1/2 cup provides 1/2 cup vegetable and 1/4 oz equivalent grain
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