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This Fall Harvest Salad is on repeat the minute the air turns crisp. It is bright, full of nourishing autumnal ingredients like kale, delicata squash, pumpkin seeds and pomegranate seeds. It comes together in less than 30 minutes and is the perfect thing to pair with my Garlic Braised Short Ribs, Creamy Mashed Potatoes and a Cranberry Margarita.
Welcome to my fall version of a hyperfixation meal. I have had a version of this salad probably most nights for the last few months. It has everything I want in a salad: crunch and texture, tartness, creaminess and packed with SO much flavor. And the best part is that it’s so versatile, you can make it anyway you like with what you find in the grocery store! Let’s get started.
Ingredients You’ll Need for this Harvest Fall Salad
For the rest of the ingredients and measurements, please refer to the recipe card below!
How to Make this Fall Harvest Salad
- Roast the delicata squash – I love tossing the delicata with a bit of maple syrup, olive oil and salt and pepper.
- Toast the pumpkin seeds – I like to toast these in a pan. Be sure to watch them the entire time because they go from raw and green to toasted very quickly!
- Make the dressing – This is a super simple shallot orange vinagrette that comes together in mere minutes! Red wine vinegar and anchovy bring an unexpected element to this dressing.
- Massage the kale – The most important part of this salad – by far! Kale can be so tough so massaging it with the dressing is the upmost importance. I like to do this for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add all of the ingredients on top – And mix it up!
Recipe Tip
Prep this salad ahead – Pour the dressing on the kale and massage lightly. Add the roasted squash, pomegranate, cheese and pumpkin seeds on top but don’t mix it up. Store in the fridge and eat when you’re ready to serve. I like to do this the morning of.
How to store this salad – This is one of the few salads that can be stored for the next day without losing its integrity. I like to store any leftovers in an airtight container.
Add protein! – I love adding shredded roasted chicken or salmon to this salad.
Recipe FAQs
Not technically, no. But without properly massaging kale (or it sitting with the dressing for 30 minutes or so), it can be a bit tough to chew.
Use other nuts like almonds, pistachios, pecans or walnuts. You can do another cheese like diced cheddar or feta. Feel free to add a chopped up apple or pear.
Absolutely. I love delicata because it doesn’t need to be peeled. But this time of year I love using anything from acorn squash, honey nut, red kure or kobocha.
What to Serve with this Fall Harvest Salad
You can absolutely add any protein to this salad like chicken, roasted salmon or tofu to round it out as your whole dinner. But if you want it to complement a few dishes, here are some favorites:
- Chicken and Dumplings
- Garlic Dinner Rolls
- Brown Butter Scallops with Butternut Squash Risotto
- Easy Apple Cobbler
- Pumpkin Chili
If you tried this Fall Harvest Salad Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Fall Harvest Salad
Equipment
- 1 small skillet
- 1 salad bowl
Ingredients
Squash:
- 1 delicata squash, seeds removed and cubed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Pepitas:
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/3 cup pepitas
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Dressing:
- 1 shallot, peeled and finely minced
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 anchovy, smashed into a paste
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Juice from 1/2 orange
- 1/4 extra-virgin olive oil
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground pepper
Salad:
- 2 bunches of dino kale
- 3 ounces goat cheese
- 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds
Instructions
To Make the Squash:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Add delicata squash to the center of a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil, maple syrup and salt and pepper. Toss together and transfer to the oven to roast for about 30 minutes, until tender. Remove and transfer to a bowl to cool.
To Toast the Pepitas:
- Place a small skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil, pumpkin seeds, maple syrup and a pinch of kosher salt and pepper. Toss until toasted, about 2 to 3 minutes.
To Make the Dressing:
- Meanwhile, let’s make the dressing, to a mason jar or small bowl, add the minced shallot, red wine vinegar, anchovy, mustard, orange juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. If using a mason jar, shake it up or whisk it up.
To Assemble the Salad:
- Remove the kale from its stems and cut it into 1-inch shreds. Add it to a colander or salad spinner. Wash and dry. Transfer to a salad bowl. Pour dressing over kale and massage kale until dressing is evenly dispersed and kale has softened. This usually takes 2 to 3 minutes. Not long but a crucial step – don’t skip this!
- Top the salad with the cooked delicata squash, goat cheese, pomegranate seeds and toasted pepitas. Toss one last time and enjoy.
Notes
- Prep this salad ahead – Pour the dressing on the kale and massage lightly. Add the roasted squash, pomegranate, cheese and pumpkin seeds on top but don’t mix it up. Store in the fridge and eat when you’re ready to serve. I like to do this the morning of.
- How to store this salad – This is one of the few salads that can be stored for the next day without losing its integrity. I like to store any leftovers in an airtight container.
- Add protein! – I love adding shredded roasted chicken or salmon to this salad.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
that salad is GORGEOUS – what a cute autumn dish. Can’t wait to try it! p.s. I felt the same way about new girl and Zooey – but now I’m addicted. Those boys are just too hilarious.
this looks gorgeous! i’m totally with you on the whole “who needs another kale salad?” thing, and yet i keep making them all the time as well! and this really does look lovely – anything with lardons on is bound to be good. great post as always, and i hope celebrations for amelia’s birthday go well! 🙂
the hobbit kitchen x
The world can always use more kale salads. I love kale!
Happy Birthday to Amelia and I would eat (only) this kale!
You’re not strange! I like to get my pup a special treat when it’s his birthday, too 🙂 He will not wear hats, though! And I do not get sick of kale salads, so this looks GREAT! I know how nutritious kale is and also how much I enjoy it — no matter what salad I’ve thrown together for my lunch at work, I almost always add some ribboned kale because it holds up so well. Then I feel EVEN stronger than Popeye. Hurray!
I was way late to New Girl and my husband and I both ended up loving it! At first I thought there was no way adorable Zooey would be able to act awkward and “uncool”, but Nick totally won me over 🙂 I think that comment from Cindy about Muppet-Zooey singing is hilariously accurate 🙂
Nick is awesome. Schmidt is even better. 😉
this salad is SO pretty! and, I have to admit, I struggle with kale. I mean, I’m cool with it in soups and stuff…but I have yet to fall in love, despite how much I try. Let me love you, kale!
Also, I love New Girl…and I love the She and Him Christmas Album, but I totally think Zooey’s singing voice sounds like a muppet. Like, when I hear her sing my brain pictures her as a muppet from Sesame Street.
Hahahhaha. Muppet. Yes!
This is an absolutely stunning salad! BTW I was late to The New Girl too and now I’m hooked!
Ok I’ll take a trough of this (minus the lardon obvi for me)+ New Girl marathon+ I wanna squeeze your cute puppy!! Happy Birthday to your fur baby!
Thanks, Abby! x
Oh my, the colors of this salad are simply gorgeous and so festive! I guess this would be a crowd pleaser for Christmas lunch…I know, we’re still just in October but this salad totally reminded me of the holidays!
xo, Elisa
UGH. This year I’m being so gross. I already know what my holiday cards are going to be like and the Christmas tree I want has already been scouted. MAKE IT STOP!
Happy birthday to Ameila! I hope you cook her up a great birthday cake ( I am sure you will with your talent)
The combo of bacon, kale and pumpkin is like the new Caesar salad ( but better because kale is super healhtly right?) Stunning pictures, the slices of squash picture is my favourite.
Oh her b-day cake is coming to the blog. There will be doggie frosting, too!