Butternut Squash and Smoky Black Bean Salad

Betsy Haley

Yum

If you like to serve a crisp salad at your holiday gathering, may I recommend this butternut squash and smoky black bean salad as a spicy alternative to your regular holiday menu.That’s right, I said spicy. Sometimes I find traditional holiday side dishes to be a bit mundane. Roasted squash? Meh. Roasted squash mixed with chipotle chiles? Amazingly, mind-blowing delicious. Psst! The same concept applies to sweet potatoes. You can thank me later.

I had never been much of a fan of the sweeter side dish options until I discovered this spicy secret. The Hubs loves all things spicy, so needless to say, this butternut squash and smoky black bean salad is now a major crowd pleaser in this house. I would eat the spicy roasted squash by itself, but when you combine it with peppery arugula (another favorite!), black beans, toasted walnuts and creamy goat cheese, you suddenly have a holiday worthy side dish that your friends and family will be talking about long after the table has been cleared.

clickToContinue


CHECK OUT MORE RECIPES IN THE KITCHEN


PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER:

Butternut Squash and Smoky Black Bean Salad Recipe


CHECK THIS OUT NEXT10 Minute Warm Maple-Dijon Brussels Sprout Salad with Pecans

I’m a sunshine worshipper, dog lover, and all around creative spirit. My mission is to make each year more enjoyable than the last by prioritizing the things I love in life, and making a conscious effort to make each day fun. I work as a freelance food stylist, which means making food look pretty for advertising. To me, cooking is a way to make art each and every day. Ingredients are my medium. Besides being in the kitchen, I love living a southern California active lifestyle with my husband and two Labradors. Through my blog I hope to inspire others to carve out their own little peaceful place in this wild world and create the life they crave.