Love and Olive Oil

Crisp Kale Salad with Cider-Roasted Squash & Apple Cider Vinaigrette

Cider-Roasted Squash & Kale Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette

I’m sad to say this is the last recipe in our year-long partnership with DeLallo Foods. Although, seeing the sheer quantity of tasty things we still have in our pantry, I should probably say it’s the last OFFICIAL recipe. Their products are so good that we’ve made them a part of our daily lives, and you’ll no doubt see them pop up in future recipes.

This salad seems like the perfect finale. With toasted almonds, crunchy red apple chips, and sharp white cheddar cheese, it’s a perfect trio of toppings to complement the sweet roasted squash and hearty kale.

I tell you, I’d devour an entire BAG of those apple chips.

Cider-Roasted Squash & Kale Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette

Crisp is actually a perfect descriptor for this salad, with it’s crunchy textures and robust fall flavors. In fact, it’d be perfect alongside your Thanksgiving table. God knows we need some greens to offset the carb-fest that we’re planning.

We used delicata squash here, which is lesser known than it’s more common winter counterparts (however, you could also substitute butternut or acorn squash here if necessary). I like to think of delicata as a gateway squash, part way between summer and winter. Its yellow striated skin could be mistaken for a decorative gourd, but then you’d be missing out on the sweet, tender flesh within. Peeled and halved and sliced and tossed with a mixture of honey, olive oil, and unfiltered apple cider to bring out the squash’s natural sweetness, the squash on its own would make an awesome side dish. But then you’d be missing out on the delicious kale salad underneath.

The key to a non-bitter kale salad is a good dressing and a good rest. Toss the kale with the dressing until it’s totally coated, then let it sit for AT LEAST 30 minutes. I’m serious, don’t skimp on this, that extra time allows the deep green kale leaves to absorb the sweetness of the dressing, erasing any taste of bitterness whatsoever.

Cider-Roasted Squash & Kale Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette

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Ingredients:

For Cider Vinaigrette:

  • 2 tablespoons apple cider
  • 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
  • 1 shallot, finely minced (about 1 tablespoon)
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 4 ounces fresh kale, large veins removed and torn into bite sized pieces

For Cider-Roasted Squash:

  • 1 delicata squash, peeled, halved, and sliced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider (preferrably raw, unfiltered)
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:

  1. In a bowl, whisk together cider, vinegar, shallot, mustard, and honey. Slowly drizzle in olive oil, whisking vigorously, until combined. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Toss with kale. Let sit for at least 30 minutes if not more (the longer the kale sits with the dressing, the less bitter it will be).
  2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly spray with cooking spray.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, honey, cider, and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Toss with squash slices until fully coated, then arrange on baking sheet in a single layer. Bake squash for about 15 minutes or until tender and bottoms are lightly caramelized.
  4. To serve, divide kale among salad bowls. Top with a few slices of roasted squash and sprinkle with CRISP SaladSavors® toppings.
All images and text © / Love & Olive Oil

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The fine print: No purchase necessary. Giveaway open to US residents only. Void where prohibited. Winner will have 48 hours to respond otherwise an alternate winner will be chosen. Bonus entry requirements will be verified if selected as the winner, otherwise an alternate winner will be chosen. Giveaway sponsored by DeLallo Foods. As always, all opinions written are purely my own. This post contains affiliate links.

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387 Comments

  1. I follow LoveAndOliveOil  on pinterest.
    Sharylmk1

  2. Sharp Asagio (asagio cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts) This fits me to a T!

  3. Followed on Pinterest BretteSember

  4. Love the Fresh Goat Cheese!

  5. followed on Pinterest: firsttimefoods

  6. Goat Cheese, please! That’s my flavor !

  7. I already subscribe to your lovely newsletter!

  8. and i pinned all the things 

  9. Zesty! I love olives and feta on a salad…yum!

  10. i tweeted and twittered all up in that twittersphere. 

  11. i follow via rss feed (feedly)

  12. goat cheese for sure! 

  13. I follow on Pinterest, username avivaisen

  14. goat cheese

  15. Fresh goat cheese – I don’t know if it fits my personality but my taste buds thinks it does :-D

  16. Follow both Love & Olive Oil and DeLallo Foods on Pinterest as cjsorel

  17. follow on twitter and tweeted

  18. sharp asiago

  19. The zesty feta is definitely my speed. I could it a Greek salad full of feta cheese everyday! 

  20. Sharp asiago!

  21. I follow DeLallo on Pinterest

  22. I follow you on pinterest

  23. I subscribe to your newsletter

  24. Ooh, the Vibrant Blue SaladSavors looks great for me!

  25. I would love to try any of them! They all sound very tasty!

  26. I follow both on Pinterest: jldstudio

  27. I am subscribed to your emails :)

  28. I think the sharp Asiago is a good fit!

  29. I follow both on Pinterest.  motobean84

  30. I follow both on twitter @motobean84 and tweeted!  https://twitter.com/motobean84/status/535434023435137024

  31. I subscribe to emails!

  32. The fresh goat cheese is up my alley!

  33. I’m a goat cheese fiend! I’d love to try that one.

  34. sharp asiago!

  35. i can’t get enough of goat cheese, so it’s gotta be that one!

  36. Sharp asiago…oh the things I can do with that combination.  Not just on salads…but a great place to start.  I already subscribe to your newsletter too.

  37. I Follow both Love & Olive Oil and DeLallo Foods on Pinterest  www.pinterest.com/my4boysand1

  38. I Subscribe to Love & Olive Oil via email! [email protected]

  39. I thin the sharp asiago would fit me the best but they all sound so good! 

  40. Fresh goat cheese is my favorite flavor! Tweeted and following all on Pinterest and tweeter. Thanks for sharing!

  41. pinterest follower – kandice williams

  42. I am more like the Fresh Goat Cheese.  #saladsavors
    I’m a  little tart and sassy a bit nutty but also smooth operator!

  43. already subscribed

  44. Vibrant blue! 

  45. I follow both on Pinterest already.

  46. I’m already subscribed.

  47. Definitely the Fresh Goat Cheese salad savor.

  48. Sharp Asiago is my fave@

  49. I’d love the Fresh flavor!

  50. I can always expect to be hungry after reading your blog and looking at your recipes. You have so many haelthy inspirations! Thanks for sharing!

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