Preheat the oven to 400˚F.
Line a large baking sheet with foil and add the diced butternut squash, garlic cloves, 1 ½ teaspoons sage, balsamic vinegar and 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Mix everything around on the pan to coat. Roast, stirring occasionally, until the squash is tender and caramelized around the edges, about 30 minutes. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if needed.
While the squash bakes, make the maple pecans. Line a small baking sheet with aluminum foil and add the pecans and 1 tablespoon of the maple syrup. Season with salt. Toss the pecans to evenly coat in the syrup, then spread in an even layer. Pop the pan in the oven (this can be alongside the squash) for about 5 minutes, or until the nuts are a shade darker in color and aromatic. Immediately transfer the nuts to a plate. Cool completely, then coarsely chop.
To make the dressing, squeeze the roasted garlic cloves out of their skins into a small bowl, and mash them into a paste with a pinch of salt. Add the apple cider vinegar, the remaining ½ tablespoon maple syrup and the remaining ½ teaspoon sage. Season with salt and pepper. Whisk in the remaining ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil.
In a large bowl, combine the butternut squash, cooked rice, apple and chopped pecans. Add the dressing and toss to coat. Taste and season with salt and pepper, as needed. Gently fold in the goat cheese. If you’re feeling fancy, garnish with fried sage leaves just before serving.