Shrimp and balsamic butternut squash salad –Get ready to dive into a bowl of color and flavor with this delightful Fall Harvest Salad! It’s the time of the year when leaves crunch beneath our feet and everything just screams comfort food. But hold onto your forks because this salad is anything but boring! Packed with roasted butternut squash and crisp apples, it’s like autumn decided to throw a party in your mouth. So, let’s hop on the fall food train and whip this up!
Fall Harvest Salad with Butternut Squash and Apple
Feast your eyes on this beauty:
Ingredients
Here’s what you need to get this salad rolling:
- 1 medium butternut squash, peeled and cubed
- 2 apples, cored and chopped (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp are great!)
- 4 cups mixed greens (spinach, arugula, whatever melts your butter)
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries (because life is too short for boring salads)
- 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled (or omit if you’re feeling daring)
- 1/4 cup walnuts or pecans, toasted (for that crunchy surprise)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- Salt and pepper to taste (as much as your taste buds can handle)
Instructions
Time to unleash your inner chef!
- First things first—preheat your oven to 400°F (if your oven doesn’t like to play along, you might want to give it a pep talk).
- On a baking sheet, toss the cubed butternut squash with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, a pinch of salt, and a sprinkle of pepper. Roast those beauties in the oven for about 25-30 minutes or until they’re tender and have a slightly golden tint—let them get that tan!
- While that’s going on, grab a bowl and mix the greens, apples, dried cranberries, feta, and nuts. It’s a luscious green party!
- When the butternut squash is done, let it cool for a minute (don’t burn those precious taste buds) and then toss it into the salad bowl.
- For the dressing, whisk together the remaining olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Drizzle it over the salad like you mean it, and give everything a gentle toss. No one likes a dry salad!
- Serve immediately and watch everyone rave about your culinary skills. You might even get asked for the recipe—no pressure or anything!
And there you have it! A salad that will make you the star of any dinner table and might even convince your friends that eating your greens can be a whole lot of fun! Enjoy!