Description
Roasted butternut squash salad with crispy bacon and caramelized onions delivers a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and smoky flavors. Seasonal ingredients combine to create a delightful dish that satisfies both comfort and gourmet cravings you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 medium butternut squash, halved lengthwise and seeded
- 8 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 6 slices bacon
Protein and Nuts:
- 1/3 cup pecans, toasted and chopped
Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) olive oil
- 1 cup sliced onion
- 1/3 cup raisins
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) maple syrup
Instructions
- Prepare oven at 450°F and arrange butternut squash halves, coating exposed surfaces with olive oil and enveloping tightly in aluminum foil.
- Roast squash for approximately 20 minutes until slightly tender. Remove from oven, allow cooling, unwrap, then transform into uniform 3/4-inch cubed pieces, reserving 8 cups.
- Render bacon in skillet over medium-high heat until crisp and golden, about 10-12 minutes. Transfer to paper towels and delicately crumble.
- Utilize identical skillet with residual bacon drippings to sauté onions briefly, then incorporate squash cubes. Continue cooking until onions caramelize and squash reaches desired tenderness, roughly 10-15 minutes.
- Assemble salad by layering romaine lettuce with crumbled bacon, toasted pecans, sweet raisins, and warm squash-onion medley. Finish by drizzling maple syrup, gently tossing ingredients to distribute flavors evenly, and serve immediately while ingredients remain warm.
Notes
- Prep Ahead: Roast butternut squash and crisp bacon in advance to save time during meal preparation.
- Bacon Alternatives: Swap bacon with pancetta, prosciutto, or use smoked tofu for vegetarian version.
- Texture Balance: Toast pecans briefly to enhance their nutty flavor and provide extra crunch to the salad.
- Seasonal Flexibility: Experiment with different squash varieties like acorn or delicata for varied taste and texture profiles.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 440mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 20mg