Roasted Winter Squash Salad Recipe
A wintertime riff on potato salad. No potatoes though, just winter squash, a beer-based dressing, rosemary, walnuts, currants, and celery.
I keep buying kabocha squash. Orange ones. This is despite the fact that, orange or green, they're incredibly heavy. Now, before you jump to the conclusion that I'm a complainer, allow me to add this - the walk home from the farmers' market is best thought of as a summit attempt. Straight up, five blocks. And not only are the kabocha dead weight, but they also threaten to crush the eggs, and smash the little gems in my sack. Bag bullies. But I can't get enough of them, and I've come to terms with the fact that they're actually worth the fuss - just the right amount of sweetness, quick-cooking, velvet-textured, sunset-orange flesh, AND they don't have the stringiness of pumpkins.
My absolute favorite way to eat the orange kabocha is this: roast fat wedges to within an inch of their life at 425F / 220C. They should end up deeply browned, the flesh tender and nearly falling from the sliver of skin lending structure. While still hot, eat straight from the skin - each bite with a smear of butter and a few flakes of good salt.
When you've had enough of that, I encourage you to try this. In short, it's a wintertime riff on potato salad. No potatoes though, just winter squash (kabocha, pumpkin, acorn, etc) roasted until brown-crusted and tender fleshed. Chopped celery and red onion lend crunch, bite, and that familiar flavor profile. The rest of the salad (in this case) came together from whatever was within arms reach; rosemary from the window-sill, the second half of my beer = dressing base, toasted walnuts and currants hopped up from spice drawer.
This is a long way of saying, if you come across these guys at the market, bring one home with you. I suspect you'll agree it's worth the effort. -h
Book signing: Just a quick reminder that I'll be at the Remodelista Holiday Market in Marin this Saturday 12/3 from 10-4. I'll have books to sell, and I'm happy to sign books you already have. Hope to see some of you there.
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Roasted Winter Squash Salad
As I mentioned up above, I made this with orange kabocha squash, but I imagine it'd be nearly as good with acorn, delicata, or most other winter squash, really. I used walnuts, but I bet roasted pepitas or almonds would be great, and chopped dried figs in place of the currants. You can make and toss this ahead of time, but bring it to room temperature to serve.
1 pound / 450 g roasted winter squash*, cut into 1-inch / 2.5-cm chunks, skin removed
4 celery stalks (with leaves if possible), diced
1/ 2 medium red onion, finely chopped
2 big handfuls toasted walnuts, chopped
1/4 cup dried currants / dried figs2/3 cup / 160 ml beer (something along the lines of Anchor Steam)
2 teaspoons Dijon-style mustard
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoon honey or brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
If you haven't already roasted your squash, start there*.
In the meantime, make the dressing by whisking together the beer, mustard, vinegar, olive oil, honey, and salt. Taste, adjust with more sugar or salt if needed, and set aside.
Toss the squash in a large bowl with about a third of the dressing. Let it sit for a minute or two, add more dressing, and most of the celery, red onions, walnuts, and currants. Toss again. You'll likely have dressing left over, but this is a salad you should overdress in the beginning - the squash really drinks it up. Also, taste for seasoning at this point and add more salt if needed. Sprinkle with the remaining celery, red onions, walnuts, and currants, and enjoy. Let sit at least 5-10 minutes and serve.
Serves 6.
*Toss 1 1/2 inch thick slabs of (de-seeded) squash with a few gluts of olive oil, a sprinkling of salt, and 1 teaspoon chopped rosemary in the top third of a 425F / 220C oven until completely tender, about 15-20 minutes. Remove and let sit until cool enough to handle. For this recipe, slice into 1-inch / 2.5 cm chunks, leaving the skin behind.
Prep time: 10 minutes - Cook time: 20 minutes
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Comments
Perfect! I haven't been able to find kabocha squash here in Oklahoma but my friend is a produce manager and he ordered me some. Can't wait to try your recipe!
it's so sad i'm afraid to cut squash, because it's one of my favorites!
This is the perfect kind of organic, impromptu, throw it together and the result is hearty and delicious! p.s. I have dish envy.
Wow, you are just speaking right into my heart with this one! The joy of winter squash and there is Anchor Steam in my frig right now...this is sooo getting made this weekend!
i'm with you, i absolutely adore kabocha squash - there is no better roasting squash out there!
Your photographs make it look so good. Now will it look that good when I make it? ; )
The squash looks sooo good. Warm, hearty, comforting. Perfect meal for the chilly days. Stay warm :)
Roast 'em til they surrender. Love it!
"Bag bullies." I love that, Heidi!
An interesting way to handle bullies. :) I know I can make this in my kitchen but when I read your posts, I always think wouldn't it be nice to eat it in your kitchen with you (along with a hundred other readers!).
I feel you with the bag bullies- there's nothing worse than getting home and realizing a squash or pumpkin has squished my perfectly ripe pears. I fuss over my bags at the farmers market or grocery store to prevent these disasters, and I know people are looking at me thinking I'm too into my produce. :) Love your idea of winterizing potato salad with squash.
What else is on your plate?
I love the idea of a beer-mustard dressing! I've been roasting squash like a fiend lately - always on the look out for a new way to try it. The crunch from the celery must be wonderful with the roasted squash!
love that you use the beverage you are drinking to cook, i love throwing beer in everything from elk chili, tortilla soup to braised chicken. thank you for the inspiration, time and love you put in your beautiful food.
Roasted Vegetables, especially winter squash, make me swoon. I made something similar to this on thanksgiving with some local squash, and they would fall apart in your mouth. Delicious. I like the sounds of the mustard-apple cider vinegar-honey combination...there's never enough squash!
Oh my goodness. You are wonderful! I am so excited to buy more squash for this recipe!
As a kid I used to hate winter, but as a kid I also used to hate tomatoes, onions, beans, nuts, pumpkin, squash... pretty much all vegetables (well, tomato is a fruit). Now I love winter and all the vegetables that come with it! Every year I wait for winter just so I can get fresh winter squash and pumpkin!
I just bought a delicata squash for the first time.... I looked at your photo and thought to myself but mine is a pale green/blue. What did I get myself into? Into this lovely salad, that's what. Can't wait to try it.... I may sub wine for beer though. ;)
Looks great! I love the addition of beer in arms reach - very random :)
I was just thinking about how I can use beer in recipes earlier today, and then this! This sounds so delicious. I like all the contrasting flavors; sweet and savory. Yum! :)
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