Roasted Delicata Squash Salad with Lychee White Balsamic Vinaigrette 

Explore the magic of fall with our Roasted Delicata Squash Salad. This seasonal delight features roasted delicata squash, baby arugula, spinach, tart apple, dried cranberries, and crumbled chevre cheese. Drizzled with a luscious Lychee Balsamic Vinaigrette, this salad is a burst of sweet, savory, and nutty flavors. Topped with toasted pumpkin seeds, it's a visual and culinary masterpiece. Elevate your autumn meals with this recipe that's as delicious as it is beautiful.

Ingredient Spotlight. Our Lychee White Balsamic is what makes this salad sing, lending a delicate, floral sweetness that both glazes the roasting squash and brightens the vinaigrette. Whisked with a grassy, peppery Ultra-Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil, it turns simple autumn produce into something luscious.

Ingredients

FOR THE ROASTED DELICATA SQUASH

• 1 delicata squash, 1 to 1.25 pounds
• 1 tablespoon Ultra-Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 tablespoon Lychee White Balsamic
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

FOR THE SALAD

• ½ cup toasted pumpkin seeds
• 4 to 5 cups loosely packed blend of baby arugula and baby spinach, about 4 to 5 ounces
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries
• ⅓ cup crumbled chevre cheese
• 1 medium tart apple cored, and thinly sliced
• freshly ground black pepper to taste

FOR THE LYCHEE BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

• 4 tablespoons Ultra-Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 2 tablespoons Lychee balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Instructions

ROAST THE DELICATA SQUASH

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a large, rimmed baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray or line with parchment paper.
2. Slice the ends off the squash and discard. Slice it in half, lengthwise and use a spoon to scrape out the seeds. Place the halves skin-side up on the cutting board and slice crosswise into ½- to ¾-inch thick slices.
3. Place the sliced squash on the prepared baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and lychee balsamic whisked together. Season with sea salt and pepper. Use your hands or a spatula to mix until well coated.
4. Transfer to the oven and roast for 20 minutes, or until fork tender. Remove from the oven and allow the roasted squash to cool while you continue with the rest of the recipe.

MAKE THE LYCHEE BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

1. Add the olive oil, lychee balsamic vinegar, mustard, lemon juice, salt and pepper to a jar or other airtight container. Secure the lid and shake vigorously for about 10 seconds, or until thickened. Set aside.

ASSEMBLE THE SALAD

1. Cover the bottom of a wide shallow bowl or platter with the arugula and baby spinach. Top with roasted squash, dried cranberries, toasted pumpkin seeds, and goat cheese. Drizzle with dressing and finish with a little freshly ground black pepper.

Chef's Notes

• No need to peel delicata squash. Its thin skin softens beautifully in the oven and adds a lovely bit of texture to the salad.
• Roast the squash just until fork-tender and let it cool slightly before assembling, so it holds its shape and doesn't wilt the greens.

Make It Yours

• Add a handful of toasted pecans or walnuts for extra crunch, or swap the chevre for crumbled blue cheese if you like a sharper bite.
• For a warmer, more autumnal dressing, try our Cranberry Pear White Balsamic in place of the lychee.

Allergens: Contains dairy (milk) and mustard.

Shop our Lychee White Balsamic at the shop.