This harvest kale salad is packed to the max with goodies! Perfectly roasted delicata squash, apples, pecans, and cranberries all tossed in a cider vinaigrette that’s naturally sweetened with dates. Whole30, Paleo, vegan, and no refined sugar.
Is anyone else completely delicata squash obsessed lately? It’s the one winter squash that I haven’t paid enough attention to all these years. Really.
Roasted delicata squash is a savory, sweet, crispy treat that you’ll never want to be without. Right now I’m loving it more than sweet potato fries, more than butternut squash, more than acorn squash.
I’ve been roasting it just to snack on, to be honest. It’s just that good! And in this epic Whole30 harvest kale salad, it’s definitely the hero.
What You’ll Need To Make this Roasted Delicata Squash Salad
This salad is loaded with flavor but doesn’t require anything crazy to throw it together. For the salad, you’ll need:
Delicata Squash + oil and sea salt for roasting
Chopped Kale
Apples
Cinnamon
Pecans
Fruit-Sweetened Cranberries (this is the brand I love!)
For the dressing, you’ll need:
Medjool dates + water
Apple Cider Vinegar
Mustard
Cinnamon
Salt and pepper
Avocado oil, or olive oil
The dressing comes together FAST in a blender and it’s SOOO tasty. One of those dressings I have to hold myself back from eating with a spoon 🙂
Tips for Roasting Delicata Squash
Delicata squash is amazing for a lot of reasons. One of those reasons is that you don’t need to peel it! Really, the peel is perfectly delicious to eat after roasting. Here are a few of my tips for getting the perfect roasted delicata squash:
Slice it thin and evenly, for even roasting
Use parchment paper on the baking sheet to prevent sticking. It also gets them crispier, in my opinion.
Spread them out so each slice has its own breathing room. This will ensure they won’t steam. You want them to roast up nice and crispy like French fries! Using two baking sheets is essential for this recipe.
How to Make Salad Dressing with No Added Sugar
Of course, you could simply omit any sweeteners completely, but that wouldn’t be as tasty! To sweeten up salad dressings while keeping things Whole30 compliant, I always use medjool dates.
The medjool dates are typically softer than other types, but I also soften them in hot water to make them really easy to blend up. They add subtle sweetness and also a creamier texture to the dressing!
The dressing for this salad is a sweet apple cider vinaigrette. I added a little mustard and cinnamon for an extra kick, and used avocado oil. You can also use light flavored olive oil, but I don’t recommend extra virgin because it will take over the flavor of the dressing, giving it a bitter edge.
Lastly I wanted to mention massaging the kale. Before I got into kale, I thought massaging it sounded odd and crazy to be honest. As it turns out, it’s just an easy way to soften it up and make it perfect for salad!
Simply drizzle a little oil and sea salt on the kale and then just massage it with your hands. You’ll feel it soften up, and depending on your preference you can massage it as long as you like to get the texture you prefer.
Okay, it’s time now guys! Get ready to make this crazy delicious roasted delicata squash harvest kale salad – grab your squash and preheat the oven. Magic is about to happen – let’s go!
Roasted Delicata Squash Harvest Kale Salad {Paleo, Whole30}
Roasted Delicata Squash Harvest Kale Salad {Paleo, Whole30}
Ingredients
Salad:
- 12 oz kale washed and chopped
- avocado oil and sea salt for massaging the kale
- 2 delicata squash
- 2 med/large apples cored and sliced into 1/2” slices
- 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 cup pecans
- 2/3 cup Dried cranberries apple juice sweetened, for Whole30
Dressing:
- 2 medjool dates softened
- 3 Tbsp water
- 3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tsp mustard
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp sea salt fine grain, or to taste
- 1/8 tsp black pepper or to taste
- 1/3 cup avocado oil or light olive oil
Instructions
For the Squash:
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Preheat your oven to 425° and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Wash the squash Cut ends off to create two flat edges. Cut in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds.
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Cut into 1/4- to 1/2-inch slices, keeping the size of the slices consistent. Rub, toss, or spray with olive oil so both sides of each slice are coated with oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and spread onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet in a single layer.
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Place in preheated oven and roast for 25-30 minutes, flipping after 15 minutes or so. Once they appear golden brown and crisp, remove from the oven.
Apples and Pecans:
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Spread out the apple slices on a large parchment lined baking sheet and sprinkle with the cinnamon. Roast in the preheated oven (below or above the squash for 7-9 minutes or until tender.
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After 5 minutes, sprinkle the pecans over the apples and continue to roast 2-4 minutes, watching the pecans to avoid burning.
For the Dressing:
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Place all dressing ingredients in a small high speed blender (I used a NutriBulleand blend until smooth. Set aside until ready to serve.
Arrange the Salad:
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Place the chopped kale in a large bowl and drizzle with 1-2 Tbsp oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Massage the kale for several minutes until you reach desired texture.
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Layer the kale with the roasted delicata squash, apples, pecans, and the dried cranberries. Toss with the dressing before serving. Keep leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Enjoy!
Nutrition
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Want More Paleo + Whole30 Salad Recipes? Try One of These!
Brussels Sprouts Salad with Bacon and Apple Vinaigrette
Kale Salad with Caramelized Onions, Chicken, and Hot Bacon Dressing
Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with “Buttermilk” Dressing
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This salad has all the best flavors of fall! I also love delicata squash. That dressing sounds to die for!
Made this today. Very good! I did use apple pie spice instead of cinnamon. Then sautéed the kale with bone broth. Added tomato’s and some sliced avocado. Delicious.
i love food and everything make me happier in the new day
Amazing
Soooo good. I’d never ‘softened’ raw kale. It made such a difference. Super fall salad. Served with your honey mustard chicken thighs. It was a hit.
This was the most amazing salad!! The blend of flavors was perfect. I couldn’t find unsweetened cranberries so used dried unsweetened cherries.
Just made this and it was INCREDIBLE! Feels like a staple salad. It took a few more dishes than I normally like to use but the taste and the fact that it’s still good in the fridge makes it worth it. I added in some toasted pumpkin seeds with the squash and some poppy seeds in the dressing. I’ll definitely make this again.