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Cozy Harvest Fall Salad with Roasted Squash

Cozy Harvest Fall Salad - featured image
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A warm and comforting fall salad featuring roasted butternut squash, peppery greens, crisp apples, and toasted pecans, all tied together with a tangy apple cider vinaigrette.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 medium butternut squash, peeled and cubed
  • 2 cups baby kale or spinach
  • 1 crisp apple (Honeycrisp or Fuji), sliced thin
  • 1/2 cup pecans, toasted
  • 1/2 cup crumbled feta or goat cheese
  • 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
  • Extra virgin olive oil (for roasting and dressing)
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Peel the butternut squash, remove seeds, and cube into one-inch pieces. Place on a baking sheet and toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, and pepper.
  3. Spread squash in a single layer and roast for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway, until tender and browned.
  4. While squash roasts, toast pecans in a small skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until nutty. Let cool.
  5. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
  6. Wash and dry greens. If using kale, remove tough stems and massage leaves with a little olive oil to soften.
  7. Core and slice apple into thin wedges or half-moons.
  8. In a large bowl, combine greens, roasted squash, apple slices, red onion, and toasted pecans.
  9. Drizzle dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat evenly.
  10. Crumble cheese over the top and serve immediately while squash is warm.

Notes

Do not overcrowd the baking sheet to ensure the squash roasts rather than steams. Toasting the pecans enhances their flavor. If using kale, massaging it with oil helps tenderize the leaves. The salad is best served immediately to maintain texture contrast between warm squash and crisp greens.

Nutrition

Keywords: fall salad, roasted squash, butternut squash salad, healthy dinner, meal prep, vegetarian, autumn recipes, warm salad

Find it online: https://zoeplate.com/cozy-harvest-fall-salad-with-roasted-squash-easy-5-step-recipe/