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Butternut Squash and Kale Salad with Pomegranate, Toasted Almonds + Goat Cheese

Healthy butternut squash and kale salad with pomegranate, goat cheese and almonds! A great salad during the holiday season. Easy to make and SO delicious!
Course Dairy Free, Dinner, Gluten Free, Grain Free, Lunch, Meal Prep, Salad, Vegan Friendly
Keyword butternut squash and kale salad
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 280 kcal
Author Monique of AmbitiousKitchen.com

Ingredients

  • For the salad:
  • 1 1/2 pound butternut squash, cubed (about 4 cups cubed)
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon McCormick Ground Turmeric
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 large bunch of Tuscan kale, stemmed and finely chopped (about 6 cups chopped kale)
  • 1/3 cup pomegranate seeds
  • For the dressing:
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoons honey
  • Freshly ground salt and pepper, to taste
  • For the topping:
  • 1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds (can also use a mix of pumpkin & almonds seeds)
  • 1/4 cup goat cheese crumbles

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place cubed butternut squash on baking sheet, drizzle 1 teaspoon olive oil over the top then add garlic, turmeric and salt. Toss to evenly coat the butternut squash with oil and spices. Spread butternut cubes evenly around pan and roast for 20-25 minutes until squash is fork tender.
  2. While the butternut squash is cooking, chop your kale if you haven’t already and add it to a large bowl. 
  3. Next prepare your dressing: In a small bowl add the following: olive oil, orange juice, apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard and honey; whisk until smooth. 
  4. Pour dressing all over the chopped kale and use your (clean) hands to gently massage the dressing into the kale for a few minutes. This helps removed any bitterness from the kale and adds flavor the the leafy green.
  5. Once butternut squash is done cooking, add it to the kale along with the pomegranate seeds; toss to combine.
  6. Pour into 4 salad bowls, or 1 large bowl for sharing. Before you serve the salad, top with toasted almonds and goat cheese crumbles. (Tip: Don’t add the goat cheese or almonds until you are ready to eat.)

Recipe Notes

TO MAKE AHEAD OF TIME: Salad can be made a day ahead of time. Just top with almonds and goat cheese once ready to serve.

To make this a full meal: Add 4 oz grilled chicken (or protein of choice!). If you're really hungry and want to skip the meat, just divide the salad into two portions instead of four.

Not into kale? Try arugula or baby spinach!

How to toast sliced almonds: If you’re almonds aren’t already toasted, you can spread them on a small cookie sheet and bake them for 5-6 minutes at 350 degrees F.

TO MAKE VEGAN AND/OR PALEO: Simply leave off the goat cheese and use pure maple syrup instead of honey in the dressing.

Nutrition Facts
Butternut Squash and Kale Salad with Pomegranate, Toasted Almonds + Goat Cheese
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 280 Calories from Fat 128
% Daily Value*
Fat 14.2g22%
Saturated Fat 2.5g16%
Carbohydrates 35.8g12%
Fiber 8.8g37%
Sugar 10.3g11%
Protein 8.6g17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.