Spooky Black Rice with Carrots and Roasted Acorn Squash

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

In amidst of all the halloween parties, trick-or-treat candies and other indulgences that go along with the holiday, it's nice to know that there are festive recipes out there that are good for you too! This seasonal black and orange dish definitely hits the spot on a cool fall evening, and would be an excellent addition to just about any meal. To top it off, black rice is extremely nutritious - full of antioxidants, fibre and vitamin E. I stumbled upon this website while writing this post - check it out if you're looking for more info or articles about this new superfood. With that said, if you aren't able to get your hands on some black rice and want to give this recipe a shot, any rice would work just fine.

Spooky Black Rice with Carrots and Roasted Acorn Squash

Ingredients

1 cup black rice, cooked
2 cups water or broth (I used homemade bone broth)
1 acorn squash, peeled, seeded and cubed
4 carrots, chopped (peel if not organic)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp dried thyme (or 1 tbsp fresh)
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 cup raw pecans
1-2 large handfuls of arugula
salt & pepper to taste

Directions

Black rice should ideally be soaked for about an hour prior to rinsing and cooking. If you're pressed for time, make sure you give the rice a good rinse until the water runs clear. Bring rice and water/broth to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and let simmer for 25-30 mins if soaked, or 60-70 if unsoaked.

While rice is cooking, preheat oven to 450 F.
Prepare the squash and carrots, and once chopped to your liking, toss in olive oil and herbs until coated. Place on a baking sheet and roast for about 15 minutes. Remove pan, turn veg, and place back in the oven for another 10-12 minutes until fork tender (it's ok if the squash is slightly blackened). In the last few minutes, toss pecans onto the baking sheet to lightly toast.

Remove from oven, combine with cooked rice and arugula.
Season with salt and pepper, if using, and enjoy!

Hope you all enjoy the halloween festivities you have planned tonight! Don't forget to eat a delicious, satisfying dinner before handing out candies to the trick-or-treaters tonight to avoid temptation.