Roast squash, freekeh and feta salad

Ingredients

1 butternut squash (about 1.2kg), cut into 2.5cm thick wedges, then halved or cut into 10cm lengths
4 tbsp olive oil, plus extra to drizzle
50g walnut halves
50g pitted medjool dates, roughly chopped
50g mixed fresh herbs (such as parsley, mint, coriander and dill), ⅓ chopped,
the rest leaves picked
250g pouch cooked freekeh (we used Merchant Gourmet)
1 gem lettuce, cut into thin wedges
1 cucumber, peeled, halved lengthways, deseeded, then sliced into half-moons
200g feta cheese
4 tbsp pomegranate seeds

Ingredients

1 butternut squash (about 1.2kg), cut into 2.5cm thick wedges, then halved or cut into 10cm lengths
4 tbsp olive oil, plus extra to drizzle
50g walnut halves
50g pitted medjool dates, roughly chopped
50g mixed fresh herbs (such as parsley, mint, coriander and dill), ⅓ chopped,
the rest leaves picked
250g pouch cooked freekeh (we used Merchant Gourmet)
1 gem lettuce, cut into thin wedges
1 cucumber, peeled, halved lengthways, deseeded, then sliced into half-moons
200g feta cheese
4 tbsp pomegranate seeds

Method

Heat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 6. Toss the squash with a drizzle of olive oil, season with salt and pepper, then spread over 2 baking trays in a single layer. Roast for 40 minutes until golden and tender. Add the walnuts to one of the trays for the final 5 minutes to lightly toast. Set aside.
Meanwhile, mash the dates and the chopped herbs with 4 tbsp olive oil in a pestle and mortar (or in a bowl using the back of a fork) to make the dressing.
Toss the freekeh with the squash and walnuts, then tip onto a serving platter with the lettuce and cucumber. Crumble over the feta, drizzle with the dressing and gently toss to coat. Scatter over the herb leaves and pomegranate seeds, then serve.

Method

Heat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 6. Toss the squash with a drizzle of olive oil, season with salt and pepper, then spread over 2 baking trays in a single layer. Roast for 40 minutes until golden and tender. Add the walnuts to one of the trays for the final 5 minutes to lightly toast. Set aside.
Meanwhile, mash the dates and the chopped herbs with 4 tbsp olive oil in a pestle and mortar (or in a bowl using the back of a fork) to make the dressing.
Toss the freekeh with the squash and walnuts, then tip onto a serving platter with the lettuce and cucumber. Crumble over the feta, drizzle with the dressing and gently toss to coat. Scatter over the herb leaves and pomegranate seeds, then serve.

delicious. tips

For extra tang, add 4 sliced preserved lemons (pith discarded) or a squeeze
of lemon juice to the dressing.

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