SPICY BUTTERNUT SALAD
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Author Notes: This is a "wake up and pay attention" kind of salad! The sweet squash is further sweetened and perked up with brown sugar and cayenne. The whole squash is utilized; even the seeds. Then it meets peppery arugula and an uncompromising dressing to match its' sweetness and spicy flavors. This is a great make ahead of time recipe...easy to make for any size crowd and it travels well if it must! Serve at room temperature. (I originally put this on Food52 in March, 2010 and then took it down, then put it back for the butternut squash contest.) - dymnyno
Serves 4 or more
- 1 1 pounds butternut squash
- 2 tablespoons butternut squash seeds
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 cups arugula
- 10 slices pancetta
- pecorino cheese shavings
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon banyuls vinegar
- 1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses
- 1 tablespoon sriracha chili sauce
- Peel the butternut squash and trim it so the rounds and circles are uniform and clean. Reserve the seeds and clean, rinse and dry them.
- In a large baggie, put the squash, olive oil, brown sugar, sea salt and cayenne. Shake it to evenly coat the squash.
- Remove the squash from the baggie and place on a silpat on a baking sheet. Roast in the oven at 350 for about 40 minutes until slightly carmelized.
- Toast the squash seeds with a little sea salt in a saute pan.
- Saute the pancetta until very crispy.
- Shave the pecorino cheese into curls with a vegetable peeler or a sharp knife.
- Mix the dressing: Sriracha sauce, banyuls vinegar, pomegranate molasses and olive oil.
- Toss the arugula with the dressing (to taste). Arrange on a plate.
- Arrange the butternut circles and dots in the arugula. Also arrange the pancetta in and on the arugula.
- Garnish with the toasted butternut seeds and the pecorino curls. Sprinkle with more dressing if needed.
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Dish with Meat as a Flavoring
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Picnic Dish
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Butternut Squash
Tags: brown sugar, butternut squash, casual, cayenne, Salads, savory
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over 2 years ago themissingingredient
Made this for lunch today and everyone cleaned their plates!!
over 2 years ago Sagegreen
I just found this one....with 171 entries last week, no doubt there were many I still have not noticed. But this looks delightfully spicey with all your special touches!
over 2 years ago lapadia
I love your recipe idea AND your presentation!
over 2 years ago onetribegourmet
Looks Delicious!
over 2 years ago TheWimpyVegetarian
This looks so delicious and so healthy, I'm going to try to make time to make it tomorrow! I love so many things about it including my favorite ingredients like pom molasses and sriracha. Great, great salad.
over 2 years ago foodfighter
I like the heat and squash combo
over 2 years ago drbabs
Barbara is a trusted source on General Cooking.
This is really beautiful! I love that you made a salad!
over 2 years ago fiveandspice
Emily is a trusted source on Scandinavian Cuisine.
This looks gorgeous and delicious! I'll definitely be trying this with one of my next little squashies!
over 2 years ago iuzzini
This is so beautiful!
over 2 years ago dymnyno
OHHH yes, I took the pic before I put the pecorino cheese on. Don't forget the cheese.
over 2 years ago Lizthechef
Looks delicious, along with your original touches...