Simple Roasted Butternut Squash Kale Warm Salad

Written By: Christina Newberry

Reviewed By: Gloria Tsang, RD

Title: Registered Dietitian

Last Updated on:

Whether you’ve recently harvested a garden full of butternut squash or you’ve just been eyeing squash at farmers’ markets or the grocery store, the cooler weather is a sure sign it’s time to start making some hearty squash recipes.

Roasted Butternut Squash Kale Salad Recipe

Butternut squash is excellent in comfort dishes like risotto and pasta. But it can also be great in salads – which can be served as a side dish or first course but are hearty enough to serve as a main course with some crusty bread, a sandwich, or some soup. Roasting the squash brings out the sweetness, which is a great combination with the slight bitterness of cool weather greens like arugula and the crunchiness of kale.

Ingredients needed for roasted squash kale warm salad
Cut butternut squash
Dice onion
Reduce balsamic vinegrette
Wash kale
Saute kale
Peel avocado
Roasting butternut squash
Add butternut squash to kale
Drizzle reduced balsalmic vinegar to salad
Roasted butternut squash & kale salad poster
Roasted Butternut Squash Warm Kale Salad

Roasted Butternut Squash Warm Kale Salad

Course Salad

Ingredients
  

  • 1 butternut squash (medium) peeled, seeded, and cut into half-inch cubes (see note)
  • 1 red onion (large) diced
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 bunch kale leaves cut into half-inch slices
  • ¾ cup balsalmic vinegar
  • 1 cup arugula
  • ½ cup goat cheese avocado for a plant-based option
  • salt
  • pepper

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  • Toss the squash and onion with 1.5 Tbsp olive oil, place in a roasting pan or on a foil-lined baking sheet and roast, turning occasionally, for about 35 minutes, until squash is tender.
  • While the squash cooks, pour balsamic vinegar into a small saucepan and lightly simmer on very low heat until it is reduced by about half. Don’t worry if it seems too thin – it will thicken quite a lot as it cools.
  • Saute kale in 0.5 Tbsp olive oil just until slightly wilted, about one or two minutes, tossing regularly. Transfer kale to your salad bowl and allow to cool.
  • When the squash and onions are ready, add them to the kale.
  • Top the salad with the arugula and toss, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Crumble goat cheese over the salad (or toss with avocado) and drizzle with the balsamic reduction.

Notes

Note: If you have extra squash, go ahead and roast it at the same time, then keep it in a plastic container in the fridge for a few days so it’s ready to add to a salad the next day, or to use in a pasta dish, frittata, or stir-fry.

The Bottom Line

This hearty salad is a good transitional dish for fall. It’s easy to put together and packed with healthy ingredients!

Cooking

butternut squash, home cooking, recipes, roasted squash, salad, Thanksgiving

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1 thought on “Simple Roasted Butternut Squash Kale Warm Salad”

  1. Its crazy to figure out eating after 50 but these recipes seem simple. Every time i have a health issue i turn to Foods or Vitamins. In the last 10yrs since my stroke\ diabetic seizure over weight(265) My blood pressure was 223\102. i have come a long way but 10yrs later i am less weight but Now with Arthritis, bursitis and issues with the after 50 thing and not to mention diabetes, high blood pressure and minimal high colesterol so i am limited on my foods i can eat and or drink. So back on the library computer i go to research once again. Sometimes i just feel like throwing in the towel and jst get fat again. But Alas I will Not give up and thanks to your recipes i may just have hope

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