If fall could fit into a salad bowl, this would be it. 🍎🍂 Our Fall Harvest Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash, Apples & Apple Balsamic is packed with sweet roasted squash, crisp apples, hearty kale, creamy goat cheese, crunchy pepitas, chickpeas and dried cranberries — all tossed with an irresistible dressing made with Butter Olive Oil and Gravenstein Apple Balsamic Vinegar.
It is colorful, cozy, satisfying and exactly the kind of salad we start craving when September rolls around. Even better? It works beautifully as a healthy fall lunch, an easy weeknight dinner or a gorgeous side dish for Thanksgiving and autumn entertaining.
The Perfect September Salad
September is one of our favorite food months. Summer produce is still hanging around, but those wonderful fall flavors are starting to sneak in. Apples are crisp, squash is back on the menu and suddenly everything tastes better with a little maple, cinnamon and balsamic.
For this harvest salad, we roast butternut squash and chickpeas with our Butter Olive Oil, which gives them a rich, buttery flavor without needing melted butter. Then we bring everything together with a sweet-tangy apple vinaigrette featuring our Gravenstein Apple Balsamic.
The combination is seriously good.
What Makes This Harvest Salad So Delicious?
- Roasted butternut squash: Sweet, caramelized and perfect for fall.
- Crisp apples: Add freshness and crunch to every bite.
- Kale: Hearty enough to hold up to the warm roasted vegetables and dressing.
- Chickpeas: Add protein, texture and make this salad satisfying enough for lunch or dinner.
- Dried cranberries: A little sweet and chewy goodness.
- Pepitas: Because every great salad needs some crunch.
- Goat cheese: Creamy, tangy and absolutely delicious with apples and squash.
Butter Olive Oil + Apple Balsamic = Fall Magic
Our Butter Olive Oil is one of those pantry staples that makes cooking ridiculously easy. It gives roasted vegetables a rich, savory butter flavor while still offering the versatility of olive oil.
Pair it with our Gravenstein Apple Balsamic Vinegar and you get a dressing that is fruity, slightly sweet, bright and tangy — basically everything this harvest salad needs.
And yes, you may want to make extra dressing. We would not blame you. 😉
Make It Your Own
This harvest salad is very forgiving, so feel free to play around with what you have in the kitchen.
- Swap goat cheese for feta or blue cheese.
- Use pears instead of apples.
- Add sliced grilled chicken for extra protein.
- Try walnuts or pecans instead of pepitas.
- Add cooked quinoa or farro to turn it into a hearty grain bowl.
- Use mixed greens if kale is not your thing.
Can You Make Harvest Salad Ahead of Time?
Yes! Roast the squash and chickpeas and prepare the vinaigrette up to two days ahead. Store everything separately in the refrigerator. Slice the apple and assemble the salad shortly before serving for the best texture.
Because kale is heartier than delicate salad greens, you can even dress it a little ahead of time without ending up with a sad, soggy salad. Win!
A Delicious Fall Side Dish for Thanksgiving
This salad also makes a beautiful addition to a Thanksgiving table. The jewel-toned cranberries, golden squash, green kale and sliced apples look gorgeous on a big serving platter, and the fresh flavors provide a welcome contrast to all of those rich holiday favorites.
Serve it alongside roasted turkey, pork tenderloin, roast chicken or your favorite vegetarian fall dishes.
Bring on the Flavors of Fall
Sweet apples. Buttery roasted squash. Crunchy pepitas. Creamy goat cheese. And that Apple Balsamic dressing tying everything together.
This is one of those salads that proves eating your vegetables does not have to feel remotely boring.
Grab your Butter Olive Oil and Gravenstein Apple Balsamic from The Little Shop of Olive Oils and give your fall salad game a delicious little upgrade. 🍎🥗🍂
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