Butternut squash wild rice salad with cranberries and fennel

Easy to make, colorful and flavorful, this butternut squash wild rice salad is such a bright and delicious choice for a potluck, on a Holiday table or in your lunch box! 

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One of the things I love about this time of year is lots of roasted vegetables, particularly roots. One of our favorite meals in colder months is a roasted chicken with a range of roasted vegetables like carrots, squash (like maple roasted buttercup squash), beets and parsnips.

That said, they can seem either a bit heavy or get same-y if you have them too often. This wild rice salad is a great way to enjoy seasonal fall flavors in a bit of a lighter way.

The combination of soft, gently sweet butternut squash, nutty wild rice, crunchy fresh fennel and sweet dried cranberries works really well, especially rounded off with the light orange dressing.

I've combined squash and wild rice before in my acorn squash wild rice salad, but this is a little lighter and has slightly sweeter flavors between the butternut squash, cranberries and orange dressing.

How to make this butternut squash wild rice salad

• Peel and dice the squash, toss in oil and roast.
• Cook the wild rice until just cooked then allow to cool.
• Finely dice the fennel and add to the rice along with the squash, cranberries and sunflower seeds.
• Whisk together the dressing ingredients, pour over the salad, mix through and serve.

This salad might look like it has a few steps, but you can make it easier by making ahead.

Make ahead tips

You can easily roast the squash while you are cooking other things, and put the rice on to cook as well. Allow them to cool then refrigerate both - they will keep for a day or two before you need them.

Alternatively, make up the salad and refrigerate it once made. Since there's nothing in there that wilts, it's ideal to make ahead and take either to a potluck or pack for lunch (and if you need more ideas, try some of these make ahead salads).

This butternut squash wild rice salad with cranberries and fennel is a delicious, light but filling taste of fall that has so many uses. Lots of great flavors and textures, it's a healthy lunch or side you'll love.

Try these other fall salads:

• Pear gorgonzola salad with candied pecans
• Beet apple salad with maple vinaigrette
• Butternut squash farro salad
• Vegan lentil salad with roasted Brussels sprouts
• Apple celeriac salad with bacon
• Plus get more fall recipes in the archives.

See some of my favorite cooking tools and ingredients in the Caroline's Cooking Amazon store. 

See more cranberry ideas:

• Cranberry Gremolata from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Cranberry Orange Relish from Books n' Cooks
• Orange Cranberry Sweet Rolls from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
• Roasted Green Beans with Cranberries from Making Miracles
• Slow Cooker Cranberry BBQ Chicken from Jonesin' For Taste
• Slow Cooker Cranberry Pot Roast from Everyday Eileen
• White Cheddar and Cranberry Dip from Sew You Think You Can Cook
• White Chocolate Cranberry Blondies from House of Nash Eats

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