Roasted Butternut Squash Salad

Roasted Butternut Squash Salad. Meet your new power salad, vibrant and nutritious, with just a touch of citrusy vinaigrette. The robust flavours of butternut squash and the saltiness of feta cheese go exceptionally well with apples, grapes and walnuts. This salad is ideal for the diet savvy and those who follow a vegetarian diet.

the ingredients,

When the cooler weather comes around, enjoying hearty, comforting salads made with more than just the greens is the way to go.

In this healthy, nutrient-packed salad, the star ingredient is butternut squash. To add more flavour to the squash, the squash is coated with maple syrup and olive oil, and the squash is slowly roasted. By roasting the squash, it will add caramelized flavour, making it taste sooo good!

To add more flavours and textures, I added apples, grapes and walnuts. The walnuts add an earthy, rich flavour to this autumn salad and protein.

Another ingredient that goes well with the sweetness of the squash, apples and grapes is feta cheese. The sharp saltiness of feta ties everything together. And, of course, some greens.

orange vinaigrette,

I always feel that you can’t have a delicious salad without the right dressing. Sometimes we need creamy dressing such as the light blue cheese dressing, or another times, a light vinaigrette.

I wanted something citrusy for this roasted butternut squash salad because it would go well with the apples and grapes. And, the orange flavour will not overpower the fruit in this salad. The light fruity vinaigrette will enhance the freshness of this healthy salad, making it so good!

Butternut squash fruit or a vegetable?

Butternut squash is one of the most versatile fruits. Yes, this orange-fleshed winter squash is a fruit. Although, it is more often used as a vegetable in savoury dishes such as this Thai Red Curry With Chickpeas and Butternut Squash or the Vegan Lentil Butternut Squash Soup.

You can add butternut squash to both sweet and savoury dishes because of its mild flavour. And the squash is packed with vitamins, minerals and is rich in dietary fiber and antioxidants. And, in addition, the squash is not shy of calcium, iron, phosphorus, and copper.

By adding butternut squash to salads, they become more filling and healthier. And when squash is roasted, especially with a splash of maple syrup, you know the salad will be a winner.

If you are looking for butternut squash recipes, check out our complete list of healthy butternut squash savoury dishes, cakes, puddings, brownies and muffins. Enjoy!