APPLE & BUTTERNUT SQUASH SALAD
Apple & Butternut Squash Salad is delicious, pretty, healthy and nourishing. Serve it cold or warm, definitely is perfect for the Fall season. Add other ingredients of your choice.
Ingredients
FOR THE SALAD
- 2 cups butternut squash diced, bite size pieces
- 2 cups baby spinach or any salad greens
- 1 large green apple
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ cup pecans approximately 35g
- ¼-½ tsp red chilli flakes
- 1 tbsp black sesame seeds
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ¼ cup spring onion chopped
- ¼ cup feta approximately 30g
FOR THE LEMON VINAIGRETTE
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Dijon Mustard
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Instructions
ROAST THE BUTTERNUT SQUASH
- Preheat the oven to 180°C.
- Toss butternut squash with olive oil and ½ tsp salt.
- Roast in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until done. It should be fork tender. Diced butternut squash cooks faster than halved one.
- Let the roasted butternut squash cool down completely if you are making a cold salad.
- For warm salad add the warm butternut squash pieces just before serving.
- While the butternut squash is roasting, prepare the other ingredients.
SALAD PREPARATION
- Toast the sesame seeds lightly in a pan over low heat. As soon as they begin to pop, transfer to a plate and allow them to cool.
- Toast the pecans for 2-3 minutes in a pan over low heat. Transfer to a plate.
- Get the spinach leaves or salad leaves ready.
- Chop the spring onion, both the green and white parts.
- Tear or chop the mint leaves.
- Cut the apple into half. Core and then cut into bite size pieces.
- Toss with 1 tbsp lemon juice so that the apple does not become brown.
- Crumble or cut the feta cheese into cubes.
- When the butternut squash cubes are ready, mix all the ingredients - apple, pecans, spinach, red chilli flakes, sesame seeds, feta, mint and spring onion.
- Drizzle with some lemon vinaigrette dressing and enjoy.
PREPARE THE LEMON VINAIGRETTE
- Add all the ingredients for the dressing a mixing bowl, cup or jar.
- Whisk till it becomes creamy.
- If you are using a jar, close it tightly with the lid. Give it a good shake.
Notes
- Mix green and red apples.
- Add other nuts of your choice, like walnuts.
- Use a mixture of salad leaves.
- Add seeds of your choice. I like to add either pumpkin or sunflower seeds.
- Add pomegranate arils if you want to.
- Thyme is another good choice for herbs.
- Can use ready made dressing of your choice.