Roasted Delicata Squash Salad with Maple French dressing

This delicata squash salad effortlessly combines the nutty, candy taste of delicata squash with crisp greens and a medley of complementary substances like pecans, crimson onions, and goat cheese. It’s among the finest salads to serve alongside Thanksgiving dinner.

In the event you love fall salads, do that basic Thanksgiving salad with spiced French dressing or kale salad with apples and balsamic French dressing.

Whereas I really like hearty acorn squash casserole, savory bread pudding, or tacky scalloped potatoes as a Thanksgiving facet, there’s one thing about balancing all of the carbs out with a hearty salad and tangy dressing. 

The textures alone can have you coming again for seconds. Crunchy pecans and pepitas, sweet-tart pomegranate seeds, tender roasted delicata squash, and creamy goat cheese make it the star amongst all of the facet dishes.

It’s one in every of my favourite salad recipes, and that’s saying rather a lot! 

Not solely is it DELICIOUS to eat, nevertheless it’s GORGEOUS to have a look at. Similar to this roasted delicata squash, it’s formally a favourite recipe for vacation meals. 

Causes I Love This Delicata Squash Salad

1. Nutrient-rich goodness: Delicata squash is a wealthy supply of nutritional vitamins A and C, whereas the leafy greens present important minerals.
2. Consuming seasonal: Embrace the flavors of fall with this salad that highlights one of the best of seasonal produce. We regularly discover it at fruit farms and fall farmer’s markets this time of the yr.
3. Adaptable: Customise the salad with extra of your favourite fall substances or strive a special salad dressing.
4. Easy and spectacular: Impress friends with a surprising dish that requires minimal effort (delicata squash has edible pores and skin!). 
5. Full of taste: all the flavors and textures arise towards any primary course, even our favourite cheesecloth turkey. 

In the event you love a contemporary pomegranate salad, do that pear salad with goat cheese.

Do You Preserve Pores and skin On Delicata Squash?

One of the best half about delicata squash is its tender pores and skin, which isn’t solely edible but additionally provides a scrumptious texture to dishes like this one. The pores and skin turns into delicate when roasted, much like zucchini, providing a pleasant distinction to the creamy inside. Certainly one of my favourite issues is that leaving the pores and skin on additionally simplifies the preparation course of, making it a win-win for each taste and comfort.

What’s the Distinction Between Butternut Squash and Delicata Squash?

Butternut squash has powerful pores and skin and dense, creamy flesh with a candy, nutty taste, typically requiring peeling earlier than cooking. In distinction, delicata squash options an edible, tender pores and skin, milder candy taste, and a faster cooking time, making it a handy and flavorful possibility for varied dishes.

How one can Make Roasted Delicata Squash Salad

Listed here are the step-by-step directions, with pictures, for this delicata salad. Skip all the way down to the recipe card beneath for the complete printable recipe.

Roast the Delicata Squash First

Slice the squash: lay the squash flat on a slicing board and use a pointy knife to chop it in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to scrape the seedy facilities out of the center and discard or save the seeds for roasting. Slice every half about 1/2-inch thick into half moons.

Season and roast: toss the squash with olive oil, maple syrup, and some primary spices in a mixing bowl. Unfold them out in a single layer on a big baking sheet. Roast at 425°F for 20 minutes, then flip the squash and roast for an additional 10-Quarter-hour. 

Observe: you might line the baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Nonetheless, I really like the crispy-golden crust you get from roasting instantly on the pan.

Make the Pecans and Pumpkin Seeds

Toss and add to the pan with the squash: combine pumpkin seeds and pecans with maple syrup, olive oil, and salt. When the squash is finished, flip it and push some to the facet, leaving area for the nuts. Prepare them in a good layer and end roasting for 5-10 minutes.

Success tip: maintain an in depth eye on the nuts as a result of they’ll burn simply, particularly with the sugar from the maple syrup.

Spiced French dressing

For this salad, I really like the tangy flavors of a easy French dressing. I added a little bit of maple syrup to deliver out the candy maple flavors from the nuts and roasted delicata squash. I additionally blended in a little bit of cinnamon to go with the squash and remaining fall substances.

Combine it: add all the substances to a jar with a lid and shake to mix. Alternately, whisk all of it collectively in a big measuring glass or bowl. In the event you favor balsamic dressing, strive the balsamic dressing on this kale apple salad.

Assemble the Delicata Salad

• Recent greens: use your favourite blended greens like peppery arugula, crunchy kale, contemporary spinach, and even chopped romaine. We additionally love buying store-bought salad mixes. 
• Roasted delicata squash: add this to the salad proper from the oven or permit it to chill and serve it at room temperature and even chilly.
• Nuts: observe the recipe for maple-roasted pepitas and pecans. You possibly can additionally make paleo candied pecans or just buy roasted pecans, walnuts, or pistachios.
• Pomegranate seeds: buy them deseeded or use this simple approach to deseed a pomegranate. 
• Golden raisins: they add sweetness to salads, however you can even use dried cranberries or omit them altogether.
• Purple onion: shortly slice and add it to the dish for a chunk and a crunch.
• Goat cheese: I’m a sucker for creamy goat cheese on any salad. In order for you salty cheese, strive shaved parmesan or feta cheese.

Skilled Recipe Suggestions

• Begin checking the squash 5-10 minutes earlier than the tip of cooking and take them out of the oven in the event that they’re tender and golden brown.
• Get inventive and swap out substances and toppings to your liking.
• Shortcut: Purchase pre-chopped greens and buy pomegranate arils as an alternative of an entire pomegranate.

Prep and Storage Directions

Make the dressing and retailer it within the fridge for as much as 5 days. The roasted squash will keep contemporary within the fridge in an hermetic container for as much as 3 days. Add it to the salad and serve chilly. Alternatively, heat within the oven till heated by earlier than serving.

I don’t suggest assembling or dressing all the salad prematurely. You’re higher off prepping the elements and assembling them earlier than serving!

Leftover undressed salad will keep contemporary within the fridge for as much as 2 days.

In the event you make this recipe, I’d love so that you can give it a star score ★ beneath. You too can tag me on Instagram so I can see it!

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