Rich autumn flavours and rustic warm colours make this roasted Butternut Squash Salad a favourite choice for a healthy fall salad! Caramelized bites of squash, sweet cranberries, feta cheese crumbles and crunchy pecans top a bed of tenderized kale.
One of the best parts of this roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Cranberries may be the smallest.
No--it's not the little pieces of tenderized kale. It's not the feta crumbles. It's not even the sweet little cranberries.
What is it? Those crispy edges on the tiny cubes of oven-roasted butternut squash!
Caramelizing squash brings out its mellow flavour and natural sweetness and it creates tasty, crusty bits to search out and savour! Nestled in a bed of tenderized kale, and topped with sweetened cranberries and salty feta cheese, this is an ideal kale salad for a fall or winter dinner. Leftovers? Perfect for lunch the following day!
But there's more! Tucked in among all that deliciousness are Caramel Spiced Pecans adding the final special touches to this fall salad.
And tossing it all together and then drizzling it with my favourite Honey-Lemon Dijon Dressing enhances the hearty flavour of this comforting Butternut Squash Salad even more.
We've finally accepted that summer has ended. Today we dug up the last of the leeks and carrots from the garden, trimmed back leggy annuals and started to get the garden and yard ready for winter.
We're basking in the warmth of a sunny fall day here on the West Coast and we're toasting the beginning of a new season with a glass of Cranberry Apple Cider Sangria and this wholesome Butternut Squash Salad with cranberries, salty feta and sweet pecans!
Here's what you'll need to make this healthy fall salad. Make it for dinner, or for a packable lunch. It's also great as a potluck offering as it stays fresh!
🛒 Ingredients
- Butternut squash: you'll need 2 cups, cubed
- kale: Lacinato kale, (also known as Dinosaur or Tuscan Kale). See below for how to tenderize kale. You'll need one bunch.
- cranberries: dried, sweetened
- feta cheese: crumbled, for that salty flavour
- pecans: try my Caramel Spiced Pecans with this salad. Delicious!
- Honey-Dijon Dressing: olive oil, white wine vinegar, lemon juice, shallots, honey, Dijon mustard
🔪 Instructions
Here's an overview of what you'll do to make this butternut squash salad. Complete instructions are in the recipe card below.
- First, whisk the dressing ingredients first, then set aside to allow flavours to blend while you make the salad.
- Next, cut the squash, season, then roast in the oven.
- Meanwhile, prepare the kale, massaging it to tenderize it.
- Arrange the kale in a serving bowl, top with roasted squash, cranberries, feta and caramel spiced pecans.
- Drizzle or toss with Honey-Lemon Dijon dressing and serve.
Frequently asked questions
Your choice! It's good both ways. Make the salad and top it with roasted butternut squash fresh from the oven. It's also delicious cold, if you prefer. Chill leftovers and enjoy it cold in your lunch the following day.
Do you avoid kale salads because kale is tough to chew? Even Lacinato Kale (sometimes called Tuscan Kale, Italian Kale or Dinosaur Kale) can be chewy, but it's easy to improve its texture.
First, remove the center stem, either with a sharp knife or by stripping the leaves from the stem.
Next, chop the leaves into small pieces or ribbons.
Transfer to a bowl, and drizzle with a teaspoon or two of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt.
Work the olive oil into the leaves by gently rubbing them between your fingers.
Massaging kale in this way helps to break down the tough fibers and makes it tender and easy to chew and digest.
Kale is a superfood!
Read more about kale in this article about the healthy benefits of kale.
🔁 Possible variations to Butternut Squash Salad
- serve with spinach or romaine instead of kale
- substitute goat cheese for the feta
- keep it vegan by omitting the cheese
- add Maple-Glazed Walnuts or Low-Carb Roasted Pumpkin Spice Pecans instead of 20-Minute Caramel Spiced Pecans
Storage instructions
This salad will last several days in the fridge. Keep it tightly covered and enjoy for your lunch or as a side for dinner!
Butternut Squash Salad with Cranberries and Feta
Ingredients
- 2 cups Butternut squash,, cubed
- 4 tsp olive oil extra virgin, divided
- 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper
- 1 bunch Lacinato (Tuscan) kale
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/2 cup Caramel Spiced Pecans
Honey-Lemon Dijon Dressing
- 1/2 cup olive oil , extra virgin
- 3 tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 tbsp white wine vinegar, or Champagne vinegar
- 1 small shallot, finely minced
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp honey
- 1/2 tsp each salt and pepper
Instructions
- Whisk the dressing ingredients first, then set aside to allow flavours to blend while you make the salad.
- Heat oven to 400°F.
- Cut Butternut squash into small bite-sized cubes. Place in a medium bowl and toss with 2 tsp of the olive oil and salt and pepper until well-coated. Heat a baking sheet in the oven, brush or spray lightly with oil, then arrange squash cubes so they are spaced apart. Roast for 15 minutes or more, turning half way through, or until squash is beginning to brown, and is fork-tender. Remove from oven.
- Meanwhile, remove inner ribs from kale leaves and finely chop. Transfer to a bowl and massage with the remaining 2 tsp olive oil.
- Arrange in a serving bowl, top with roasted squash, cranberries, feta and caramel spiced pecans. Drizzle or toss with Honey-Lemon Dijon dressing and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
🗒 More healthy fall and winter salads
If you love wholesome salads for fall and winter days, you might like these ones, too.
- Fennel Apple Chicken Salad with Pumpkin Spice Pecans
- Crispy Pear and Fennel Salad
- Pear and Cranberry Chopped Salad
- Cauliflower Lemon Basil Salad with Toasted Capers
- Orange Date and Pomegranate Spinach Salad
- Apple, Cheddar and Smoked Salmon Spinach Salad
- Pomegranate Mandarin Salad with Avocado and Feta
- Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Cranberries and Pecans
- Nourishing Quinoa Salad with Cranberries and Pears, or one of these
- 6 Tasty Healthy Winter Salads
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Colleen Milne says
Roasted butternut is the best, and this salad looks delightful, especially with the walnuts. I'm obsessed with walnuts right now and keep putting them in everything. Yum, thanks for sharing.
Flavour & Savour says
HI Colleen,
Agreed! I love roasted squash, and yes, walnuts are a great alternative to the pecans in this recipe. Enjoy!
Nicole says
Roasted squash in salads is always a delight. I happen to have some kale and roasted butternut squash in the fridge right now, so I'm thinking a salad later. Thanks for the lunch idea 🙂
Flavour & Savour says
Thanks Nicole! We liked it with both warm butternut and cold, too!
Loreto Nardelli says
Elaine, this salad is truly a work of art. The colors and textures brought a warm smile to my face and made me think of spring and summer which I love tremendously. I love that caramelization that happens when you roast the squash and marrying it with all those other wonderful flavors like kale, walnuts, and oh you didn't feta! OMG!. Love it Love it Love it. Beautiful work on this one, It is going on my list of recipes to do and try!
Happy weekend.
Loreto@SugarLoveSpices
Flavour & Savour says
Thanks Loreto! Happy weekend to you and Nicoletta, too!
Kari - Get Inspired Everyday! says
Caramelized butternut squash is irresistible and when you pair it with a honey mustard dressing, I'm all in!
Dana says
I love *everything* happening here! So many flavors and textures. I'm definitely going to be making this. My love for roasted butternut or kabocha squash knows no bounds, and when you add nuts, feta, and cranberries to the mix? Good golly...
Flavour & Savour says
Thanks Dana! The first time I had a Butternut Squash salad was in a trendy San Francisco restaurant years ago. It sounded so good on the menu. When it was brought to the table, it had three, yes 3! tiny cubes of butternut squash on top. So . . . when I make it at home now, I LOAD it up! Hope you love it.
Elaine Kennedy says
I had something similar to this in Las Vegas and it was awesome, it was served cold and they had mini marshmallows but no greens. I’m trying hard to recreate it but am not finding anything on the web. It seemed to have two other types of squash with it, do you have any suggestions.
Flavour & Savour says
Hi Elaine,
It sounds interesting, but I've never had anything like this. I googled a few different phrases to try to help you out, but I didn't have any luck. There are several casserole recipes that use squash or sweet potatoes topped with mini marshmallows, but I don't think that is what you're looking for. Sorry I'm not able to help you with this one! Good luck!
Pamela says
Hello: I had no kale or other green, except for green beans, so I cooked those and cut them into bite-size pieces, adding all else as written. The dressing is delicious; the salad was a hit. My husband, who wants all food served very hot!, loved this "salad" served slightly chilled.
Flavour & Savour says
Hi Pamela, That’s wonderful to hear! Glad it was a hit. Thanks for letting me know!