Roasted Butternut Squash & Fig Salad

by Kiran on December 4, 2012 · 48 comments

in Appetizer, Salads

Happy December!! The start of holiday shopping, baking and scouring the Net for holiday gift ideas.

‘Tis the season….

While there’s anticipation for baking loads of cookies, my priority as of now is to clean out the refrigerator before we take our flights end of this week.

In fact, I’m taking mine in less than 48 hours!!!!

Eeeepp!!

Our neighbors would be house-sitting while we return to visit our families. And while there, I’m sure we would be eating a lot. Especially mom’s cooking, delicious local street foods etc.

So, before departing on an eating adventure, salads and soups are what I’m whipping up for lunches and dinners.

Cannot wait to eat “normal” again. Or stuff our faces.

Either way, I’m sure it’s gonna be a delicious and happy trip!

So, if you are like me and want to keep the diet in check before gobbling all the holiday cookies with the least amount of guilt — save the cookies for last and make this salad now.

Pronto.

And don’t forget to make the dressing as well, with walnut oil and smoked paprika.

It’s divine I tell ya.

All I need now is a fork. To dig in.

You would too.

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Ingredients:

  • 1 small butternut squash, peeled+cored+sliced
  • 1 tbsp walnut oil
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika powder
  • 2 small pinches of salt
  • 3 handfuls of salad greens
  • 1/4 cup toasted raw walnuts, chopped
  • 5 fresh figs, quartered

Dressing:

  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1/8 cup walnut oil

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400F.
  2. On a baking sheet, toss sliced butternut squash, walnut oil, smoked paprika & salt until thoroughly coated.
  3. Roast in the oven for 15 minutes.
  4. To make dressing, combine all the ingredients in a small bowl.
  5. To assemble: layer salad greens in a bowl, topped with roasted butternut squash, quartered figs, walnuts and drizzle on some dressing.

 

Off to peek my head into the refrigerator. Just so I know how much leftovers we need to gobble before “going” time 🙂

What are you doing to keep yourself sane before diving head first for a few pieces of cookies?

 

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Comments on this entry are closed.

1 Jennifer (Delicieux) December 4, 2012 at 3:12 PM

What a gorgeous salad. This sounds like something I would love, as it includes 2 of my favourite things – butternut squash and figs.
Jennifer (Delicieux) recently posted..12 Treats of Christmas: Strawberry Vodka

2 Kiran December 13, 2012 at 12:53 AM

Jennifer — you are too sweet 🙂

3 Rosa December 4, 2012 at 3:23 PM

A delightful salad! So tasty and beautiful.

Cheers,

Rosa

4 Kiran December 13, 2012 at 12:53 AM

Rosa — thanks my dear 🙂

5 Avris December 4, 2012 at 3:29 PM

White plate, white background…No good, although I loved the creation.
Photos nowadays are not that appealing to a common man. Well ! it is your choice ..whom u want to satisfy. Your ardent fan 😉

6 Kiran December 13, 2012 at 12:54 AM

Avris — I did not understood your comment at all.

7 Yasmeen @ Wandering Spice December 4, 2012 at 6:00 PM

Two of my favorite ingredients in this salad – butternut and figs! What a beautiful combination and I love your photograph — so bright and summery. Perfect salad photo, really captures the experience of the flavors.
Yasmeen @ Wandering Spice recently posted..Pardon my dust + a list of favorites

8 Kiran December 13, 2012 at 12:58 AM

Yasmeen — thank you so so much, my friend 🙂

9 Alyssa (Everyday Maven) December 4, 2012 at 6:55 PM

Wow, that dressing does sound divine! Have a fabulous and safe trip and Happy Holidays 🙂
Alyssa (Everyday Maven) recently posted..Garlic Rubbed Roasted Cabbage Steaks

10 Kiran December 13, 2012 at 12:59 AM

Alyssa — and tastes great too! Thanks my friend, Happy Holidays 🙂

11 Laura (Tutti Dolci) December 4, 2012 at 7:06 PM

I love roasted squash, beautiful salad!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) recently posted..chocolate-peppermint cookies

12 Kiran December 13, 2012 at 1:04 AM

Laura — thanks my dear 🙂

13 Juliana December 4, 2012 at 11:56 PM

Beautiful salad Kiran, and the fresh fig is just perfect!
Great pictures as well.
Hope you are having a wonderful week.
Juliana recently posted..Browned Butter Chocolate Chips Cookies

14 Kiran December 13, 2012 at 1:06 AM

Juliana — thank you and have a great week, my friend 🙂

15 Katerina December 5, 2012 at 11:35 AM

This is perfect for my diet Kiran!Have a beautiful rest of the week!
Katerina recently posted..Chocolate Kourabiedes

16 Kiran December 13, 2012 at 1:11 AM

Katerina — thank you my friend. Glad you liked it 🙂

17 Choc Chip Uru December 5, 2012 at 1:36 PM

For me honestly ’tis the season to eat all your recipes 😉

Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Choc Chip Uru recently posted..My Guest Post: Strawberry Nutella Macarons

18 Kiran December 13, 2012 at 1:13 AM

Uru — lol, yours too 😉

19 Jen @ Savory Simple December 5, 2012 at 2:56 PM

this is my kind of salad! what a combo.
Jen @ Savory Simple recently posted..Cheesy Baked Jalapeno Popper Dip

20 Kiran December 13, 2012 at 1:58 AM

Jen — glad it’s your kind of salad! Love it 🙂

21 Sanjeeta kk December 6, 2012 at 6:11 AM

That first click is amazing..figs in a salad..yes puleeze!
Sanjeeta kk recently posted..Baking | Scrumptious Date Filled Cookies or Ma’amoul and Soulful Essence of Middle Eastern Cuisine

22 Kiran December 13, 2012 at 2:14 AM

Sanjeeta — thank you so much!

23 Sophie December 6, 2012 at 12:01 PM

I would totally dig in! What a festive, seasonal & tasty salad: so fresh & bright incolour too!

24 Kiran December 13, 2012 at 2:30 AM

Sophie — 🙂

25 fabiola@notjustbaked December 6, 2012 at 1:28 PM

This is perfect and beautiful as usual. My kind of a salad. Figs are my favorite fruit, I can eat them until I am sick. They are not in season here, so I may have to sub something like grapes!
I am so so so happy for you and this trip. I saw you left this morning. Safe travels, and enjoy every moment.
fabiola@notjustbaked recently posted..Woodblock Chocolates Tour in Portland, Oregon

26 Kiran December 13, 2012 at 2:33 AM

Fabiola — thank you so so much my dear friend. Your comments always put a smile on my face 🙂

27 Cass @foodmyfriend December 6, 2012 at 8:55 PM

Oh yum! I am pretty organised for Christmas now 🙂 Hope you had a safe flight lovely x
Cass @foodmyfriend recently posted..Freckle Short Breads and World Cookie Day

28 Kiran December 13, 2012 at 2:36 AM

Cass — thank you my dear. The flight was eventful, without a doubt 😉

29 Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen December 6, 2012 at 11:37 PM

Well you two have been on the go quite a bit recently haven’t you? Happy travels and Happy Holidays to you!
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen recently posted..Dukkah Crusted Baked Brie and the Flavors of 2013

30 Kiran December 13, 2012 at 2:48 AM

Sylvie — oh yes! It’s been non-stop recently. But I am so glad we are able to visit the family too. It’s been a while 🙂

Happy Holidays, Sylvie 🙂

31 chinmayie @ love food eat December 7, 2012 at 7:02 AM

Oooh… I just realized i haven’t made a salad for a while now. Looks so full of flavor!
Have a great time and enjoy your holiday 🙂
chinmayie @ love food eat recently posted..Coconut Sugar Cake with A Caramel Sauce (Refined Sugar Free, Vegan, Whole Wheat & Soy Free)

32 Kiran December 13, 2012 at 3:01 AM

Chin — thank you and hope you get to make a salad soon 🙂

33 Raymund December 9, 2012 at 4:18 AM

Very nice looking salad specially that char marks on that squash. That must give it a boost in flavour
Raymund recently posted..Buko Salad

34 Kiran December 13, 2012 at 3:04 AM

Raymund — thanks! And yes, charring always leaves a wonderful depth of flavor 🙂

35 Roxana | Roxana's Home Baking December 9, 2012 at 7:44 PM

home you had a safe trip back home.
the salad sounds amazing! i love the roasted squash paired with the sweet fresh figs. beautiful
Roxana | Roxana’s Home Baking recently posted..Chocolate Candy Cake and a @ScharffenBerger gift #25recipestoXmas

36 Kiran December 13, 2012 at 3:04 AM

Roxana — thank you and yes, I made it in one piece!

37 carolinaheartstrings December 9, 2012 at 8:56 PM

Love the recipes! Hope you had a great trip.

38 Kiran December 13, 2012 at 3:05 AM

CHS — thank you my friend 🙂

39 honeywhatscooking December 9, 2012 at 11:19 PM

lovely salad.. love the uniqueness of this dish, butterut squash and figs.. wow!
honeywhatscooking recently posted..Gift Guide – Designer Handbags!

40 Kiran December 13, 2012 at 3:05 AM

Honey — thank you my friend. Happy Holidays!

41 lu July 1, 2014 at 4:21 PM

Just bought a lot of figs (great sale price!) and now am going to start this recipe that sounds so delicious!

42 Kiran July 1, 2014 at 4:40 PM

Lu — enjoy the abundance of figs and do let me know how this recipe tastes. Cheers!

43 lu July 1, 2014 at 6:47 PM

So delicious!! And this recipe gave me confidence to add figs to other salads too! Thanks!

44 Kiran July 1, 2014 at 7:51 PM

I’m so glad! Thanks for trying and reporting it back. Have a great day 🙂

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