Really impress your family at your next holiday meal with this make-it-your-own (MIYO) dish packed with flavor and nutrients.

Story by: Norton Healthcare on November 9, 2018

Really impress your family at your next holiday meal with this make-it-your-own (MIYO) dish packed with flavor and nutrients.

Keep it simple with this unique sauce recipe or add in your favorite protein, such as Italian chicken sausage, for added flavor. No matter your style, including winter squash in your meals will provide you with important nutrients, including vitamin A.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH SAUCE

Cook time: 30 minutes

Servings: 6

• 1 small butternut squash, peeled and diced (or 1 pound frozen butternut squash, pre-chopped)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 shallot, peeled and diced
• 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
• 4 sage leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2  cup vegetable broth

MIYO dish

1 cup uncooked quinoa or 3 cups uncooked whole-wheat noodles

Meat topping option

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 Italian chicken sausage links
• 3 ounces raw spinach

Cheese garnish

4 ounces Parmesan or Asiago cheese, shaved or shredded

Preparation

Cook grains according to package directions.

Meanwhile, in a large pot, add diced squash to boiling, salted water. Boil for 10 minutes and drain.

In a large sauté pan, add 1 tablespoon olive oil, shallots, garlic and sage. Sauté until shallots are soft. Set aside.

In the same pan, add 1 tablespoon olive oil, sausage (if you choose; crumbling as you cook) and spinach. Cook until sausage is warmed and spinach is wilted.

While sausage is warming, combine squash, sautéed shallots mixture, nutmeg and vegetable broth in a blender. Blend until smooth.

Layer grain, meat mixture and sauce. Top with cheese garnish and serve warm.

Nutrition information per serving (of the quinoa, sausage mixture, sauce and cheese combination): 345 calories; 17.2 g fat (4.6 g saturated fat); 578 mg sodium; 31 g carbohydrate; 4.9 g fiber; 16 g protein.