Lentils with Butternut Squash and Walnuts

Ingredients

• 1 small butternut squash (about 1 pound)
• 1 large shallot
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder
• 1/2 cup walnuts
• 1/3 cup lentils
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro sprigs
• fresh lime juice to taste (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425F.
2. Halve, peel, and seed squash and cut into 1/2-inch pieces.
3. Finely chop shallot and in a shallow baking pan toss with squash, oil, curry powder, and salt and pepper to taste until combined well.
4. Bake squash mixture in middle of oven until almost tender, about 15 minutes.
5. Chop walnuts and sprinkle over squash.
6. Bake squash mixture 10 minutes more, or until walnuts are lightly toasted and squash is tender.
7. While squash is baking, in a saucepan of boiling water cook lentils until just tender but not falling apart, about 20 minutes.
8. Drain lentils in a sieve and transfer to a bowl.
9. To lentils add squash mixture, cilantro, lime juice, and salt and pepper to taste and toss until combined well.