butternut squash salad with farro and pepitas
This was my lunch last week. I know that it may look less like lunch and more like penance, some apology for eating too many squares of . I realize that most people think that when you start serving them bowls hearty grains and roasted squash that you might have an ulterior motive, like their thighs. I understand that most people don’t believe me when I say this, but it doesn’t make it any less true: I don’t eat food because it’s good for me; I eat it because I like it. And this was one of the most delicious lunch salads I’ve ever made.
Estimated Nutrition (whole recipe, rough)
Counts 10 of 13 ingredients — the other 3 aren't in our nutrition table and contribute nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume — 10 portions →
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Ricotta Cheese | 1/2 cup (124g) part-skim | 174 |
| Farro | 1/2 cup cooked (100g) | 170 |
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp (14g) | 119 |
| Cheese | 1 oz (28g) cheddar | 113 |
| Sugar | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Wine | 2 tbsp cooking wine (30ml) | 25 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| Vinegar | 1 tbsp (15ml) distilled | 3 |
| Salt | 1 tsp (6g) | 0 |
| Pumpkin | not in our table | 0 |
| Pepita | not in our table | 0 |
| Water | not in our table | 0 |
Totals for the whole recipe, adding one typical portion per ingredient — listed above. Quantities in the recipe are not counted, so this is a rough guide only — not suitable for medical or dietary planning.
Ingredients
- 1 medium butternut squash (about 2 pounds)
- 5 to 6 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup semi-pearled farro (see Note up top)
- 1/3 cup toasted pepitas (I used, and love, the salted ones)
- 3 ounces ricotta salata or another salty cheese, crumbled or coarsely grated (about 3/4 cup)
- 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1/2 teaspoon table salt
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1/2 small red onion, finely chopped