We’re Hiring – Join Our Team
Close Search
JUMP TO RECIPE

Butternut Squash Panzanella Salad Recipe

December 3, 2019 Alex Caspero
45 minutes
Serves: 4
Mixing up Butternut Panzanella Salad
Serving of Butternut Panzanella Salad

Winter Panzanella Salad! I know we typically think of panzanella salad as a summertime staple: with thick cubes of juicy in-season tomatoes, crusty bread and heaps of fragrant basil. This holiday version is just as delicious and features the best of Fall produce: beautiful kale ribbons, roasted butternut squash and sweet cranberries. If you’re looking for a crowd-pleasing salad to serve this time of year, this butternut panzanella is it!

If you’ve never had panzanella salad before, it’s basically a vegetable salad with big chunks of homemade croutons. It’s the perfect thing to make if you have leftover bread as this salad tastes even better with stale, hard croutons. The crunchy bread is better able to soak up the delicious Balsamic dressing, providing the perfect balance of crispy and soft. It’s divine!

I make a batch of roasted butternut squash almost weekly this time of year. Roasting helps release the natural sugars in vegetables; a reaction that happens when there is no water and the sugar is able to caramelize, creating a sweet, nutty, toasty flavor. Whenever I hear someone say that they don’t like vegetables, I urge them to try them roasted. Bitter compounds are transformed into slightly sweet ones and it’s the perfect answer to just about any root vegetable. Enjoy the roasted butternut squash on this salad, as a simple side dish or tossed with cooked grains and your favorite Litehouse dressing.

To bring everything together, I’m using Litehouse’s tangy Balsamic dressing and marinade. This dressing is a staple in my house, a workhorse that can be used on just about any salad and as a vegetable and protein marinade. With flavors inspired by classic Italian balsamics, this dressing will complement the flavors of any dish.

Whether you are in need of a simple lunch salad or a show-stopping holiday side, this roasted butternut panzanella salad is it. To transform it into a main meal, consider adding in roasted chickpeas, rotisserie chicken or leftover turkey cubes.

Butternut Squash Panzanella Salad Recipe

December 3, 2019 Alex Caspero
45 minutes
Serves: 4

Butternut Squash Panzanella Salad! A must-make this fall; cinnamon roasted butternut squash, crispy sourdough croutons, cranberries, walnuts, and crunchy kale tossed with Litehouse’s bright and tangy Balsamic Vinaigrette. If you love traditional panzanella salad, then you’ll want to save this squash version, perfect for the holiday season.

Fresh bowl of Butternut Panzanella Salad ready to eat
Ingredients
  • 1 eamedium Butternut Squash, peeled, seeded and cubed (about 3 cups)
  • 1 tbspExtra Virgin Olive Oil
  • ½ tspSalt
  • ¼ tspBlack Pepper
  • 3 cupSourdough Bread (or other crusty bread), cubed
  • 1 bunchTuscan Kale, ribs removed and chopped into bite size pieces
  • ½ cupWalnut Halves, toasted
  • ½ cupDried Cranberries
  • ½ cupLitehouse® Balsamic Dressing and Marinade

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss cubed squash with olive oil, salt and pepper until well coated. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast for 30-40 minutes, stirring halfway, until squash is tender. Remove and let cool slightly.While the squash is cooking, prepare the rest of the ingredients: tear or cube the bread, chop the kale, and place the walnuts and cranberries in a large bowl.Place the bread cubes on a separate baking sheet and place in the oven for ~5 minutes, or until bread is hard and crunchy. Remove from oven and let cool slightly.Place the chopped kale into the large bowl with the walnuts and the cranberries. Add the dressing and toss for ~1 minute, making sure to coat all of the ingredients. Tossing the salad for an extended time will help to break down and tenderize the kale leaves. Add the reserved squash and croutons and toss a few more times to combine. Season as needed with more salt and pepper, and serve.

Litehouse products used

Balsamic

Dressing & Marinade
Reviews WRITE A REVIEW
Be the first to write a review

Find more great tasting recipes

Mandarin Pomegranate Chopped Kale Salad

READ MORE
Large platter of Basil-Lime Fruit Kabobs

Basil-Lime Fruit Kabobs Recipe

READ MORE
Freshly made Bite-Sized BLT Ranch Bread Bowls

Bite-Sized BLT Ranch Bread Bowls Recipe

READ MORE