California Quinoa and Avocado Salad

by BBC Good Food

The tahini and avocado combo in this dressing is totally addictive. If you have ripe avocados to use up, this is a winning recipe

Method

Based on 4 servings, adjust as needed.

Step 1

Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and line a baking tray with parchment. Tip the butternut squash onto the tray, drizzle with 1/3rd of the oil and season well. Roast for 20 mins, then push the squash to one end of the tray, add the broccoli, another dash of oil and seasoning and roast for a further 10 mins more.

Step 2

Meanwhile, make the dressing. Put the **tahini, half the avocados, half of the coriander and mint along with the lemon (juiced and zested) and maple syrup in the small bowl of a food processor. Add a splash of water and a pinch of salt. Blitz to make a loose dressing, adding a little more water if necessary.

Step 3

Squeeze the pouch of quinoa to separate the grains, then tip into a large bowl. Add the remaining herbs, spring onions, pomegranate seeds, diced avocado and *pistachios. Add the remaining oil, season and toss everything together, including the salad leaves and the roasted veg.

Step 4

Divide the salad between two plates and drizzle over the dressing and a little pepper, if you like.

  • Ingredients
  • Based on 4 servings
  • 30g Coriander, leaves picked and chopped 1x Sainsbury's Fresh Packed Bunch Coriander 30g
  • 1.5 tbsp Maple Syrup 1x Clarks Original Maple Syrup with Carob Syrup 180ml
  • 35g Pistachios, roughly chopped 1x Sainsbury's Pistachio Nuts 35g
  • 4 tbsp Olive Oil 1x Sainsbury's Olive Oil, Extra Virgin 250ml
  • 200g Tenderstem Broccoli, cut into small pieces 1x Sainsbury's Tenderstem Broccoli 200g
  • 500g Pouch Cooked Quinoa 2x Merchant Gourmet Simply Cooked Red & White Quinoa 250g
  • 15g Mint, leaves picked and chopped 1x Sainsbury's Fresh Packed Mint 30g
  • 80g Pomegranate Seeds 1x Sainsbury's Pomegranate 80g
  • 2 tbsp Tahini 1x Al'Fez Middle Eastern Natural Tahini 160g
  • 2 Avocados, peeled and diced 1x Sainsbury’s Medium Ripe & Ready Avocados x2
  • 1 Lemon, juice and zest 1x Sainsbury's Lemons
  • 4 Spring Onions, finely sliced 1x Sainsbury's Spring Onions Bunch 100g
  • 400g Butternut Squash, peeled and chopped into small chunks 1x Sainsbury's Butternut Squash Loose
  • 50g Baby Leaf Salad 1x Sainsbury's Baby Leaf Salad 90g
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