Roasted Acorn Squash Salad

Roasted Acorn Squash Salad with winter greens, crumbled cheese, and toasted seeds served in a roasted squash bowl. Perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Cheerio! I'm writing from my sister's flat in London sipping on a mimosa before we all (Paul, my sister Emily, my brother-in-law Andy, and I) head back to Heathrow and hop on the long flight to Vancouver. While we're in the air, our baby sister, Pamela, is going to be having reconstructive surgery on her hip. I'm hoping we land to some reassuring news on that front.

Before we go up in the air, I wanted to leave you with one last recipe you might want to add to your holiday table: Roasted Acorn Squash Salad.

This is less a recipe than a suggestion. Carnival squash (or acorn squash, or whatever kind of squash you prefer) is quartered, brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper, then roasted till tender and golden. It's seeds are roasted along side, and a simple green salad is tossed up while the squash is in the oven. The roasted squash quarters become a receiving vessel for the salad, which is topped with the crunchy roasted seeds, and some crumbles of cheese (I had home made ricotta in my freezer).

The dish that comes together is simple, elegant, and all kinds of nourishing. Its also a nice break from some of the heavier holiday fare you may be indulging in. Next time from the west coast. Until then, enjoy this roasted acorn squash salad.

Winter squash are rich in carotenoids, a precursor to vitamin A, and are a good source of vitamin C. It is also a very good source of dietary fiber. The seeds, when consumed in moderation, are a great source of healthy oils including linoleic acid (polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acid) and oleic acid (the same monounsaturated fatty acid found in olive oil).

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roasted carnival squash salad

A tangy winter salad is served in a roasted squash bowl. Perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Servings 4

Author Katie Trant

Ingredients

• 1 medium large carnival squash
• seeds from the squash
• olive oil salt, and pepper
• 4 cups of assorted seasonal greens
• ½ cup crumbled soft cheese
• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
• salt and pepper

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Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 200 C / 400 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment or a silpat.
• Split the squash in half and scrape the seeds out. Split the halves in to quarters, brush with olive oil, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Set on the lined baking sheet and slide into the oven to roast for about 10 minutes.
• Rinse the squash seeds under water, pat dry, then put them in a bowl and drizzle with some olive oil. Remove the squash from the oven, add the seeds to the baking sheet, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and replace in the oven.
• Roast everything for an additional  20-30 minutes, until the squash is golden and tender and the seeds are golden and crisp.
• While the squash is roasting, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper. Toss the dressing with the greens.
• When the squash is done, remove from the oven and set onto serving plates. Spoon the salad into the hollow of the squash, then sprinkle with roasted seeds and crumbles of cheese. Serve.