Roast Chicken With Warm Fregola and Butternut Squash Salad
- Yield:Serves 4
- Active time:45 minutes
- Total time:1 hour 15 minutes (including chicken and jus preparation)
Welcome fall with a roast chicken and a simple butternut squash and pasta side salad. [Photograph: Vicky Wasik]
Roast chicken and butternut squash are two classic fall dishes. Here, the squash is roasted, then tossed with fregola, a toasted Sardinian pasta similar in appearance to Israeli couscous. Fresh herbs and a grating of lemon zest bring bright flavors to the plate.
Why It Works
A simple dinner, perfect for autumn weather. Read the Whole Story- Spatchcocking the chicken results in more even cooking.
- Using the chicken trimmings to make a jus creates a quick and easy sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 recipe Butterflied Roasted Chicken With Quick Jus
- 1 pound butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into small dice
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 pound (250 grams) fregola (about 1 1/4 cups; see note above)
- 3 tablespoons thinly sliced scallions, white and light green parts only
- 2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh mint leaves
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves and tender stems
- 1 1/2 teaspoons zest from 1/2 lemon
Directions
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1.
Place diced squash on a rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with enough oil to lightly coat. Season with salt and pepper. Cook alongside the chicken in a 500°F oven until tender, about 15 minutes. Set aside.
-
2.
In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook fregola until al dente, according to package timing. Drain, then transfer to a large mixing bowl.
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3.
Add squash to fregola. Toss with 1/4 cup olive oil, scallions, mint, parsley, and lemon zest. Season with salt and pepper. Keep warm.
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4.
Serve squash and fregola salad with roasted chicken and jus; drizzle fregola with more oil as needed before serving.