Roasted Butternut Squash and Kale Salad

Raw kale isn’t for everyone. It’s a heartier, bitter green that most people prefer sautéed or tossed into stews.

I thought I didn’t like raw kale, but I was wrong. Turns out you just need to have it prepared in the right way. The trick is massaging the kale with lemon juice, which causes it to wilt as if you had lightly steamed it.

This salad is a beautiful mix of colours, flavours and textures. You’ve got the garlicky sweetness of the butternut squash combined with the lemony kale, along with tart cranberries. So fresh, so delightful.

Want to switch things up? Use sweet potato instead of butternut squash, or dried cherries to replace the cranberries. You could also use a different green, though kale is such a nutritional powerhouse I encourage you to try it just once!

What are your thoughts on kale? Do you like it raw, or can you only tolerate it cooked?

Roasted Butternut Squash and Kale Salad
From The Taste Space

1 medium butternut squash (~3lb), peeled, seeded and chopped into one-inch pieces
4 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
1 tbsp melted coconut oil
couple pinches of sea salt

1 bunch kale, thinly sliced
3 tbsp lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
pinch of sea salt

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp rice vinegar, or white wine vinegar
¼ tsp sea salt, or to taste
1 tsp maple syrup
1 tsp Dijon mustard
¾ cup dried cranberries

In a medium bowl, combine butternut squash cubes with the oil, minced garlic and sprinkle with sea salt. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and spread into a single layer. Roast until fork-tender, but not falling apart (around 30-40 minutes).

Meanwhile, mix the kale, lemon juice and salt with your hands, massaging it together. It should wilt into half its volume after three minutes or so.

Make dressing by whisking olive oil, vinegar, salt, maple syrup and mustard together. Pour over kale, toss to coat.

When the butternut squash has finished roasting, remove from oven and let cool for five to 10 minutes. Add to kale and gently toss together. Stir in the dried cranberries. Season to taste.