Okay, so the title of this recipe is a mouthful. But, one mouthful of this Warm Lentil Salad with Delicata Squash and Cilantro Cashew Cream and you will be hooked. The ingredients are simple and nourishing, but the flavors are extraordinary and delightful.
This beautiful, colorful combination of flavors and textures is THE salad for Fall, and I highly recommend you try it out. It’s the kind of meal I cook regularly throughout the fall because it’s equal parts nourishing and delicious. It’s packed with protein- and fiber-rich lentils, vitamin-rich delicata squash, and heart healthy cashews. It’s satiating and satisfying and will keep you full for hours. Plus, it stays good in the fridge for several days (just store the cashew cream separately), making it a favorite for meal prep in my house.
This salad isn’t just great for meal prep though. It would be a fabulous side dish for your Thanksgiving or holiday table. While salad isn’t exactly an exciting addition to a Thanksgiving menu, the word salad in this recipe is a bit misleading. It’s a warm salad made with peppery French green lentils, caramelized winter squash and onions, fresh herbs, and a savory cashew cream. So, it’s a lettuce-free salad made with hearty and incredibly flavorful ingredients, making it 10x better than most salads.
When it comes to making salads delicious and even crave-worthy, the key is adding textural variety. In this warm salad, we have firm lentils, tender roasted delicata squash, a pop of freshness from fresh herbs, a juicy crunch from pomegranate seeds, and a smooth richness from the cashew cream. The unique combination and varied textures makes for an irresistible salad. Yes, salads can be irresistible!
Beyond the delicious flavors, this warm lentil salad is an incredibly easy dish to make. While the squash and onions are roasting in the ovens, you can cook the lentils either on the stove or in a pressure cooker like the Instant Pot. My preference is the latter, as it cuts down on cook time and requires zero babysitting.
The cilantro cashew cream does require you to soak the cashews in advance, but if you forget to soak them overnight (hey, it happens), you can always do a quick soak of cashews in boiling water for 1 hour. Start off the recipe by soaking the cashews and by the time you prepare the squash, lentils, and salad mix-ins, the cashews will be soft enough to make the cashew cream.
Unless you really douse the salad in the cilantro cashew cream, you’ll likely have some leftovers. This is a good thing because it is absolutely delicious. I love using it as a sandwich spread, drizzling it over salads or grain bowls, or tossing it with pasta. The cashew cream leftovers will stay good in an airtight container or glass jar in the fridge for about a week.
If you’re looking for a healthy yet satisfying fall dish that’s easy enough for a weeknight dinner or fancy enough to serve for the holidays, try out this Warm Lentil Salad with Delicata Squash and Cilantro Cashew Cream!
Big Vegan Flavor
Techniques and 150 recipes to master vegan cooking.
Warm Lentil Salad with Delicata Squash and Cilantro Cashew Cream
Ingredients
- 3 delicata squash
- 2 red onions, cut into large wedges
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup, divided
- Sea salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 1 cup Puy lentils (also known as French green lentils)
- 1 bay leaf
- 4-6 sprigs of fresh thyme
- 1/2 of a medium lemon, zested and then juiced
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup parsley leaves, chopped
- 1/2 cup cilantro leaves, chopped
- 1/4 cup mint leaves, chopped
- 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds,
- 1/3 cup pistachios, chopped
- Cilantro Cashew Cream (recipe below)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425F or 220C. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy cleanup.
- Roast the squash. Slice each delicate squash in half, lengthwise. Using a spoon, scoop out the seeds and then slice each squash into 1/2-inch half moon slices. Transfer the squash and the red onion wedges to the prepared baking sheets and toss with the 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon of the maple syrup, salt and black pepper to taste, ground cumin, and cayenne pepper. Toss to coat the veggies. Arrange the squash slices and onion wedges in a single layer. Roast in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the edges of the squash are browned and the flesh is tender.
- Meanwhile, cook the lentils. First, rinse the lentils to remove any debris. To cook the lentils on the stove, add the lentils to a large saucepan or Dutch oven and cover with water by a few inches; add the bay leaf and thyme. Bring the water a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium and add a pinch of salt. Simmer the lentils for 20-25 minutes until just tender.
- To cook the lentils in the Instant Pot, add the lentils along with 1 3/4 cups water (or vegetable broth) and cook on the Manual/Pressure Cook setting at high pressure for 6 minutes. Allow a natural pressure release.
- Once the lentils are cooked, drain well and transfer them to a serving bowl. To the lentils, add the remaining tablespoon of maple syrup, along with the lemon zest, lemon juice, 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, parsley, cilantro, mint leaves, and toss well to coat.
- While the squash is roasting and lentils are cooking, make the Cilantro Cashew Cream.
- Serve the roasted delicata squash and onions on top of the warm lentil salad, and scatter the pomegranate seeds and pistachios on top. Generously drizzle the Cilantro Cashew Cream on top. Serve warm.
Notes
Big Vegan Flavor
Techniques and 150 recipes to master vegan cooking.
Cilantro Cashew Cream
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw cashews, soaked in water for 8 hours or soaked in boiling water for 1 hour
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt + more to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients in a high-powered blender or processor and blend for 2-3 minutes or until smooth, creamy, and well combined. Ensure that all of the cashew pieces are pulverized before serving.
What’s the shelf life of the cashew spread? I’d like to 3x or 4x the recipe for my other vegan dishes, like cauliflower tacos.
Hi Joe, the cashew cream leftovers will stay good in an airtight container or glass jar in the fridge for about a week.
You can find a blog post all about cashew cream here as well :)
So delicious and easy! The cilantro dressing is to die for. I added vegan feta and toasted pine nuts to mine for a little extra flavor. Couldn’t find pomegranate but that wasn’t a deal breaker.
Thank you for your lovely comment, Jamie! It makes us happy to know that you enjoyed the recipe.
Yum! Tasty and picture perfect! Can’t wait to serve it to my guests 😊
Hi Kaly, thank you so much for your kind review!
This was delicious and easy. I only had baby butternut and it worked well. Great for a winter’s day.
S, So glad to hear you loved this recipe!
Hi Nisha! Thanks for the recipe. I absolutely love your recipes!
One question for this one: After I cooked lentil, it was soggy and mushy, is there a way to let it be a little bit crunchy?
Hi Xiuyu, we’re so glad you loved the recipe! Try turning the heat down/and or starting to try the lentils at the 8 minute mark. Once they’ve hit the desired consistency, drain right away. Good luck!
This was amazing! It was delicious and savory and so delicious. I made the cashew cream over the weekend so it was easy to make during the week. I cooked my lentils in the instant pot and I may have overcooked slightly, but still great! Thank you!!!
Is there another nut to sub for cashews? I’m allergic. Thanks!
I made this today for Thanksgiving. Everyone loved it!!! It was so delicious and I will definitely be making this again! Thank you!
So glad to hear that everyone loved it, Andrea! It’s such a flavorful and satisfying dish and I can’t wait to make it again myself :)
The directions do not include instructions about the red onion. Does it get roasted with the squash
Oops, thanks for pointing that out, Caroline. Yes, they do! I’ve updated the directions to clearly indicate so.
This salad is absolutely going on my Thanksgiving menu! I’m in love with the colors, flavors, and just about everything else involved in this dish. What a show stopper! Another brilliant recipe Nisha! Thank you :)
You are so sweet, Noelle! I hope you do try it out :) Thank you!