Fall flavors of apple and butternut squash topped with crispy pancetta = a salad that warms body and soul
I’m focusing on salads this week, although not the sort that you think of on an hot summer day. It’s the first week of fall, so I’m thinking about salads with fall-centric ingredients or a bit of warmth. Although our Kentucky days are getting into the 80s, the nights are cooling off. So, while I still am craving a salad, I want it to offer a bit of comfort and coziness. Kind of like a light sweater you throw over your shoulders on a September evening.
The original post from September 2017
I’m in the midst of seasonal transitions here in New Hampshire, as many of you probably are. Last week it was so chilly at night that I thought about closing the windows. (I didn’t but added a blanket. There’s something about a cool room and thick blanket!) This week it’s humid, and I’ve turned the AC on. The local orchards are brimming with apples and squash, while the farms have a multitude of tomatoes and corn. The decision as to how to cook varies by day.
With cooler weather on hand one day, I decided to embrace apples and squash in my menu. I love combining the two in a single recipe and then adding another element to keep the sweet factor at bay. This salad managed to do that quite nicely. Rather than working with my spice rack, I decided to add some crispy pancetta to the salad. Not only does it add crunch and salt, it makes this salad appealing to a wider audience.
Notes on this recipe
I chose pancetta for this recipe because I wanted it to be the sidekick, not the star. I purchased thinly sliced pancetta, which I then diced and panfried to get it crisp. What that produced was a feather-light topping that added some savory and salty notes but kept the butternut and apple flavors front and center.
For me this salad was my entrée. Served with some flatbread or a roll, it makes for a nice, light dinner. If you have a heartier appetite, it makes a great side dish to accompany many a protein- steak, chicken, fish. They all would pair nicely.
Of course, if you’re not ready to accept the arrival of fall (you have 4 more days until it’s reality), then bookmark this recipe for a few weeks in the future. If you’re ready for some autumnal flavors, give it a try tonight.
Warm Butternut & Apple Salad
Ingredients
- ¼ cup cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon dried sage
- 1-½ pounds butternut squash peeled & seeded
- ½ medium sweet onion
- 1-1/2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 oz. pancetta
- Salt & pepper
- 1 apple core removed
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 400.
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Combine vinegar and maple syrup in small saucepan; bring to a boil.
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Reduce heat slightly and stir occasionally until reduced by half.
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Set aside.
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Dice squash into 1-inch cubes.
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Slice onion into small wedges.
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Combine squash and onion on a rimmed baking sheet
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Drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil and toss to coat fully.
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Bake for 15 minutes.
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While squash and onions cook, dice pancetta into small pieces
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Heat frying pan over medium; cook diced pancetta for 3-5 minutes or until crispy.
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Drain pancetta on paper towel lined plate.
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Dice apple into 1-inch cubes.
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Coat with ½ tablespoon oil; toss.
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After baking for 15 minutes, remove tray from oven.
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Add apple to tray, and bake for an additional 5 minutes.
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Transfer squash, onion, and apples to a large bowl.
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Pour reduced dressing over it; stir well.*
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Top with pancetta.
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Serve.
Notes
