Roast Pumpkin and Couscous Salad

Ingredients

• 1 lb. sugar pumpkin, butternut squash, or other winter squash, peeled, seeded, and sliced
• 4 Tbs. olive oil
• coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/2 lb. green beans, trimmed and cut in 2-inch pieces
• 1 cup couscous
• 1 1/4 cups boiling vegetable stock (or water)
• juice of half a lemon
• 1/2 lb. cherry tomatoes
• 1/2 cup plus 2 Tbs. chopped fresh mint leaves
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 1 Tbs. honey

Directions

Place the pumpkin in a baking dish coated with olive oil, sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. ground cumin and 1/2 tsp. salt. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 30 minutes or until pumpkin is golden and soft. Set aside.

Bring a saucepan of water to the boil, add 1 tsp. salt, and drop in the green beans. Simmer for 6-8 minutes, until the beans are tender when pierced with a fork. Drain in a sieve or colander and run cold water over them to chill.

Place couscous in a bowl and pour over boiling vegetable stock (or water). Add remainng olive oil and lemon juice to couscous and allow bowl to stand for 5 minutes or until water has been absorbed.

Cut the cherry tomatoes in half if large. Place couscous, pumpkin, beans, cherry tomatoes, and mint in a bowl and toss to combine.

To make the dressing, combine yogurt, honey, and remaining cumin and mint in a small bowl. To serve, place salad on plates and spoon over dressing.

Note: You can add 1/2 cup chopped almonds, and 1/2 cup dried currants, for added texture and taste.