This Roasted Butternut Squash Beet Cranberry Salad with Apple Pumpkin Seed Oil Dressing is a wonderful Fall salad and perfect for holiday entertaining.
This Fall, I signed myself up for an 11-week Bible study, which I’ve found is the best way to keep myself on track and disciplined in my study of the Bible. Yes, there’s homework involved, but it’s the best way I’ve found that keeps me focused and accountable… after all, who wants to show up and fess up that they couldn’t carve 30 minutes out of their day to do their homework. Left to my own devices, I know I’d be consumed by the busy-ness of life and not open my Bible. The group of women that meet every week are amazing – I’m always so inspired listening to them tell how they’ve reached out to people in their communities and their friends to show love in a tough world. It motivates me to try to do more for others and to try to treat everyone with kindness. It’s a work in progress.
One of the fun parts of our weekly gatherings is the social time before we break out into our study groups. Everyone takes turns bringing food and we get to chat and catch up with each other. I made this Roasted Butternut Squash Beet Cranberry Salad one of those nights and everyone appreciated my healthy contribution. I’ve kind of got a reputation for bringing the healthy stuff ;). Another woman brought a delicious quinoa salad that I’ve got to try very soon.
For this Fall themed salad, I roasted some butternut squash and yellow beets from the farmer’s market, and plumped up dried cranberries by heating them in a little apple cider and orange juice. The Apple Pumpkin Seed Oil Dressing takes on a rich deep color from the pumpkin seed oil (from Trader Joe’s) and pomegranate balsamic vinegar. Heart healthy flax seed oil makes this dressing a healthier dressing.
This jewel toned salad would make a great addition to your Fall menu, and would be a beautiful side dish for Thanksgiving or any Fall entertaining.
Roasted Butternut Squash Beet Salad with Apple Pumpkin Seed Oil Dressing
Ingredients
Roasted Butternut Squash
- 5 cups butternut squash chunks cut into bite-size pieces
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- sea salt to taste
Plumped Cranberries
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 3 tablespoons apple cider
Salad Ingredients
Apple Pumpkin Seed Oil Dressing
- 1/4 cup reserved orange/apple juice plus more apple juice if needed
- 1/4 cup flax seed oil
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin seed oil
- 2 tablespoons pomegranate balsamic vinegar
- salt and pepper to taste
Salad Ingredients
- 15 ounces mixed baby salad greens washed and dried
- 1 cup toasted pumpkin seeds
- 1 1/2 cups roasted beets cut into bite-size pieces
Instructions
Roasted Butternut Squash
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Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, toss together butternut squash chunks, coconut oil, and maple syrup; season to taste with salt. Transfer to parchment paper lined baking sheet and roast 35-40 minutes, until tender and just caramelized.
Plumped Up Dried Cranberries
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Place dried cranberries, orange juice and apple juice in a small saucepan. Heat until boiling; turn heat to low and simmer a few minutes; turn off heat and cover; after cool, drain cranberries, reserving juice for the dressing.
Apple Pumpkin Seed Oil Dressing
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Whisk together dressing ingredients.
Tossing the Salad
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Place salad greens in a large bowl. Top with roasted butternut squash, roasted beets and toasted pumpkin seeds. Drizzle with dressing and toss; serve.
Salmon Roasted Beet Feta Salad with Dill Salad Dressing Recipe {Daniel Plan Recipe}
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A Bible study group is such an awesome way to not be consumed so much by the busy-ness of life that we don’t open our Bibles!
I am so loving the apple/orange juice with the pomegranate balsamic vinegar in your dressing – what a delightful salad!
Shashi – I definitely need some discipline in my life and this study group has helped keep my priorities straight. Glad you like the salad dressing.
This salad is so vibrant! Great to hear that you are enjoying the 11 week Bible study class, and it’s so nice that you all bring food! Food always makes meetings more fun and communal 🙂
Food definitely brings people together!
Looks like the perfect holiday salad! All my favorite ingredients in one bowl. Your study group is lucky to have you 🙂
Thanks Liz – this would be great for Thanksgiving and this time of year!
So I’m not a dressing girl, but I would totally pour that on everything!
Rebecca – a little of this dressing goes a long way 🙂
Love this! I’m looking for the perfect salad to take to my Aunt’s for Thanksgiving… this just may be the one!
Thanks Regan – I’m sure whatever you bring will be welcome at Thanksgiving!
That sounds like an excellent combination of fall flavors and just the kind of salad I want to dig into this time of year.
Now this is my kind of fall salad! It’s beautiful, Jeanette, and the flavors going on in there are perfect for the season. I can see why it would be a hit at your Bible study! (And I love that you have a rep for bringing the healthy stuff! 🙂 )
This is such a beautiful salad! The dressing sounds wonderful and I love the roasted butternut squash and beets. It’s perfect for fall and Thanksgiving!
3 of my favs in one! great recipe!