Butternut Squash Autumn Salad

_{This post has been sponsored by Andria's Food Group. All opinions expressed are my own}.

Autumn in New York. This lovely cliché conjures images of city streets lined in autumn-gold trees, and brownstone sidewalks dusted in freshly fallen leaves. Fedora-wearing pedestrians stroll the avenues dressed in Sinatra-style trench coats. There’s a postcard depicting precisely this scene somewhere, I’m certain.

If there isn’t, there should be.

Whether this cliché still holds true or not, we’re embracing the spirit of the season, and have crafted a salad that beautifully embodies the essence of a bountiful fall harvest. We’ve done so with a little help from our longtime friends over at Andria’s Steakhouse, whose signature salad dressing is today’s key ingredient. More on them and their delicious salad dressing.

This brings us to today’s recipe – Butternut Squash Autumn Salad. This is a recipe that perfectly brings together sweet and savory, crunchy and tender, all while delivering the essence of autumn right to your plate.

At the heart of this recipe is the oven roasted butternut squash, which we’ll be pairing with fresh apples, creating a duet of textures and flavors. This Butternut Squash Salad is a lovely blend of contrasting elements. Each bite delivers the subtle sweetness of roasted squash, followed by the tartness of apple slices. The roasted pecans and pumpkin seeds add a satisfying crunch, while the tender baby spinach leaves offer a refreshing balance. To tie it all together, we’ll be topping it with Andria’s Steakhouse Salad Dressing.

So, without further ado, let's dive right in, because we have got a lot to cover. Below, I’ll provide you with an ingredient checklist to make sure you have what you need, along with tips and tricks for roasting, and variations to get your creative juices flowing.

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

This salad is packed with flavor, but uses only simple ingredients and simple prep methods. Here’s why you’ll love it.

1. Flavor Balance: This salad offers a fantastic harmony of flavors – the natural sweetness from roasted butternut squash and apples, the contrast from the tangy dressing, and the nutty, savory elements from pecans and pumpkin seeds. It's a delightful mix of sweet, tangy, and nutty tastes in every bite.
2. Versatility: As we will touch on below, this salad is super versatile, and easily customizable. It can be a satisfying side dish, a standout at gatherings, or a complete meal with the addition of protein such as grilled chicken or chickpeas.
3. Autumnal Appeal: With butternut squash and apples as the star ingredients, this salad perfectly encapsulates the essence of fall. It’s ideal for the season, whether you're preparing a family dinner or a festive gathering.
4. Texture Variety: The contrast of tender roasted vegetables, apples, and the crunch of pecans and pumpkin seeds creates a delightful mix of textures in every forkful.
5. Easy to Make: With a straightforward preparation, it's an easy recipe suitable for both novice and experienced cooks. It's perfect for busy days when you crave a homemade, healthy meal without too much fuss.

Ingredient Checklist – Everything You’ll Need to Make This Salad

This salad uses a medley of pantry friendly, wholesome ingredients, that are readily available at your local grocery store.

1. Butternut Squash - peeled and cubed
   • Notes, Tips, and Substitutions:
   • For this recipe, I recommend a medium-sized Butternut Squash.
   • While buying pre-cut squash can save time, I do recommend slicing it yourself for maximum freshness.
   • If you prefer, this recipe also works with acorn squash or pumpkin.
2. Apples - unpeeled or peeled and cubed
   • Notes, Tips, and Substitutions:
   • Use sweet-tart varieties like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith.
   • Keep the apple pieces similar in size to the squash for even roasting.
   • Feel free to experiment with other fruit, such as pears, but do note that apples work best for this oven roasting process.
3. Olive Oil
   • Notes, Tips, and Substitutions:
   • Use a good quality extra-virgin olive oil, as the flavor of the olive oil ‘does’ come through a little.
   • Consider infused olive oils like rosemary or garlic for an extra layer of taste.
   • You can replace olive oil with melted butter for a richer taste, if preferred.
4. Sugar
   • Notes, Tips, and Substitutions:
   • Helps caramelize the vegetables.
   • Brown sugar can be used for a richer flavor, especially if you you’re using candied nuts in the salad.
5. Salt
   • Notes, Tips, and Substitutions:
   • Consider using kosher or sea salt for a better balance of flavors.
   • Experiment with flavored salts like smoked salt for a unique taste.
6. Coarse Black Pepper
   • Notes, Tips, and Substitutions:
   • Freshly ground black pepper will provide a more robust flavor.
   • Adjust the amount based on your preference for spiciness.
7. Andria’s Salad Dressing:
   • Notes and Tips:
   • This salad dressing starts with a rice vinegar base, mixed with molasses and a generous splash of Worcestershire. garlic, tamarind, mixed vegetables and herbs to round out the ingredient list, creating a depth of flavor that manages to be both rich and pungent, while retaining a delicious balance. As with the steak sauce, that balance is the key. While this salad dressing will turn any salad into a delight worth savoring, it’s also incredibly versatile, being well at home on grilled veggies, a marinade for block tofu, or over fish.
8. Salad Greens (e.g., Baby Spinach Leaves)
   • Notes, Tips, and Substitutions:
   • Baby spinach is recommended, but mixed greens or arugula work well too.
   • You can blend in peppery greens like watercress for added complexity.
9. Red Onion
   • Notes, Tips, and Substitutions:
   • Thinly sliced red onions add a mild sharpness, and a delightful pop of color. However, if preferred, you can use shallots for a milder taste.
   • Soaking the slices in cold water can reduce their pungency.
10. Raisins
    • Notes, Tips, and Substitutions:
    • Consider golden raisins or dried cranberries for a different flavor.
    • Chopped dates or apricots can serve as alternatives.
11. Pecans and Pumpkin Seeds
    • Notes, Tips, and Substitutions:
    • Roasting the nuts and seeds before adding them to the salad enhances their flavor. You can also get creative here and coat them in things like maple syrup or molasses and then dust with a mix of sugar and salt.
    • Almonds or walnuts can replace pecans, and sunflower seeds can substitute for pumpkin seeds.

Getting Creative – Key Variations

1. Add Protein: Incorporate grilled chicken strips, fried tofu, roasted chickpeas, or quinoa to make this salad a complete meal. These additions provide a boost of protein, making it a satisfying standalone dish.
2. Cheese Additions: Enhance the flavor profile by including a sprinkling of feta (marinated feta if you’re feeling fancy), or crumbled goat cheese would also be delicious, or simply grated Parmesan.
3. Mix up the Greens: Feel free to switch up the greens used in the salad. Besides baby spinach, try mixed greens, arugula, or kale to change the texture and flavor profile of the salad.
4. Additional Fruits or Vegetables: Experiment with different types of fruit or vegetables. You can mix in roasted beets, grilled pears, fresh cranberries, or sliced radishes for additional layers of flavor and texture.
5. Nuts and Seeds: Naturally, experiment with different nuts or seeds, such as pecans and pumpkin seeds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, or almonds. These all bring their own subtle differences to the salad.
6. Spice Blends: Infuse the roasted butternut squash with various herbs and spices. Try a touch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or a sprinkle of cayenne for a little bit of a kick.

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And that’s our Butternut Squash Salad. If you enjoyed today’s post, be sure to like, share, and subscribe, it helps us more than you can know. Once again, give Andria’s line of sauces a try, in addition to their signature Salad Dressing, their Brush-On Steak Sauce and BBQ Sauce are absolutely delicious.

As always, if you have any questions or suggestions, be sure to let us know in the comments below. We always love hearing from you.

Happy Cooking!

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