I was staring at a butternut squash. It had lived in my fridge for some time. It was just sitting there uselessly. It gave me a hopefully look every time I opened the fridge door, but I resolutely ignored it. Until I was desperately needing inspiration for dinner one night.
I'll roast you I thought and had a look around the fridge to see who could join him in the roasting pan. Mini sweet peppers, an onion and a courgette. Perfect.

I'd usually toss these roast vegetables through pasta, but I really wanted a salad, so I mixed in a packet of ready to eat puy lentils with porcini mushrooms for a bit of interest and topped it with goat cheese (for me, not Graham) and rocket (also just for me and not Graham).
My husband and child just don't like peppery rocket. I don't get it. I think it's gorgeous stuff. So I kindly served Cooper and Graham spicy potato wedges instead of the lovely green stuff. You can't say I'm not good to them, although I had to bite my tongue when Cooper told me the black lumps (puy lentils) were disgusting and he wouldn't eat them. I had to bite my tongue even more when he started picking them out of his salad one by one. Grrrrrrrrrrr!
The crusty bread you can see in the picture is Cherry Tomato and Basil Focaccia from Dell'UGO who are known for their chilled pasta. They kindly sent me out three flavours to try, which will also be found in the chilled cabinets of supermarkets from the 18th of May. It was really crispy on the outside with a flavourful moist centre. I'd definitely serve them again. Really nice quality.


Butternut Squash, Puy Lentil and Rocket (Arugula) Salad
A simple roast vegetables salad with ready to eat puy lentils (a must for all store cupboards), goats cheese and rocket.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium butternut squash, cut into chunks
- 6 mini sweet peppers, quartered
- 1 large courgette, sliced
- 1 onion, quartered
- 250g ready to eat Puy Lentils with Porcini Mushrooms and Thyme
- a good grinding of black pepper
- 50-100g creamy goats cheese
- 50g rocket (arugula)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 220 °C /200°C fan/ gas mark 7.2. Toss the vegetables in the olive oil.3. Spread the veg out in a roasting pan and cook for 25-30 minutes until the vegetables are soft and charring at the edges.4. In a bowl gently mix the roast vegetables with the puy lentils and season.5. Serve in bowls, topped with some crumble goats cheese and a generous mound of rocket.7. Enjoy!
Total time: Yield: Serves 2-3 as a main course
Disclosure: Dell'UGO sent me some focaccia to try. They didn't ask me to post about it, just to let them know what I thought. I enjoyed it so decided to share that with my readers.
This is just the kind of salad I would go for any lunch or evening. Serving it with that focaccia turns it into so much more of a meal. My kids will eat rocket but only if it's covered in lots of salad dressing and I chop it up a bit!
ReplyDeleteI'd try that Laura, but I can't get him to go near salad leaves or dressing. He likes sweetcorn, carrot, cucumber and red pepper, that's about it salad wise.
DeleteOoh this is just my kind of salad! Love the combination of ingredients, and I'm a big fan of puy lentils. Yes please, pass us over a plate! :)
ReplyDeleteYes me too they are soooooo good! Passing the plate :)
DeleteHa, I love the intro story!! Great recipe - I adore puy lentils.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kate :)
DeleteMush lentils up in soup or dhal and little Cooper won't have a clue! This all looks totally delicious Jac and I love lentils in any form.
ReplyDeleteYes you are right Choclette, he does love dal and lentils in soup, just not missed with veg like this. Oh well you can't win them all :)
DeleteI'm like you and love lentils.
I'm such a sucker for butternut squash -- not only the taste but the colour just looks so damn fine on the plate!
ReplyDeleteI know, you can't beat it Kavey.
Deletehonestly, such joyous and bright photo's, this is a glorious salad!
ReplyDeleteThanks Dom :)
DeleteThe photos look so beautiful and colourful, I just want to dive in! What a beautiful summer supper this would be,
ReplyDeleteThanks Sarah :)
DeleteI am loving your salad it looks really colourful and very delicious.My daughter picks peas out (she hates them)so I know how you felt when cooper picked out the lentils!!!
ReplyDeleteAhhh well glad it's not jut Cooper ;)
DeleteThat's the sort of salad I really enjoy making, sadly the OH isn't so keen on squash, rocket or lentils so I have to make it for myself instead! I'll be adding this to my lunchbox at some point :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a shame Jen, but yes do make it for your lunchbox. Everyone will be jealous :)
DeleteI loe peppery rocket and have it most days with my salad at lunch. But I can see why it's not for everyone. The focaccia looks lovely!
ReplyDeleteYes it is a particular flavour, but I love it :)
DeleteWhat a delicious looking salad!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jan :)
DeleteThis looks mouthwatering, my hubby would love it if I could whip up things like this :) hehe x
ReplyDeleteWell there is your task then Sonia :)
DeleteThis looks great. I know what I'm having for lunch tomorrow!
ReplyDelete