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Everyone loves this Roasted Butternut Salad - it's super healthy but has an unbelievably delicious splurge. Are you ready? Candied bacon!
How do I love thee, oh Roasted Butternut Salad? Let me count the ways... You're healthy, indulgent, salty, sweet, smoky, hearty, fun, colorful, beautiful and... just plain old lip-smackin' delicious!
I have a feeling that, somewhere between all the sugary Halloween treats and the decadent holiday fare ahead, you’re going to need something fresh, fun, and healthy to help sustain and center you. This fabulous Roasted Butternut Salad will do the trick and more. Besides being super-nutritious, most of it can be prepared ahead, even a day or two in advance. Put it together at the last minute and wow your family, friends, and guests with a gorgeous presentation.
If you haven’t cooked with barley before, you’re in for a special treat. It’s an ancient grain that has a paste-like consistency and is just loaded with fiber, protein, and antioxidants. It helps with blood glucose stabilization, cardiovascular protection, and cancer prevention, and has actually been touted as “one of the world’s healthiest foods.” Pearl barley is the most readily available type, and the one used most often for culinary purposes. The hull and bran have been removed, making it much easier to cook.
This yummy salad also includes roasted butternut squash, fresh spinach, pomegranate arils (seeds)*, crumbled feta, and toasted walnuts. Candied bacon, which is simply bacon roasted in brown sugar, is an indulgent addition that takes this salad to “near nirvana” status. And the crowning glory? A super easy, throw-it-all-in-a-jar-and-shake maple Dijon vinaigrette.
So there you have it! Now, do you see why I’m counting the ways I love this Roasted Butternut Salad?
* If you’re intimidated by pomegranates or unsure about the best technique for removing the seeds, check out this post - How to De-seed a Pomegranate, no fuss, no mess, no water!
This Roasted Butternut Salad with Barley and Candied Bacon is Fall at it's very best! This healthy, flavorful salad is a meal in itself and everyone will ooh and ahh over every delicious bite!
- For the salad:
- 10 strips bacon
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 3 cups butternut squash peeled and diced into ½" cubes
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1½ cups walnuts roughly chopped
- 2 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cups pearl barley cooked according to package directions
- 4 cups fresh baby spinach sliced thinly into ribbons
- 2 cups crumbled Feta cheese
- 1 medium pomegranate seeded
- For maple Dijon vinaigrette:
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 3 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 2 tablespoon fresh orange juice
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup canola oil
- generous pinch sea salt
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
-
Preheat oven to 400˚F. Line 3 sheet pans with foil.
-
For candied bacon, place bacon strips on one of the prepared sheet pans. Sprinkle evenly with half of the brown sugar. Place in oven for 10 minutes, then remove from oven and flip bacon strips to opposite side. Sprinkle with the remaining half of the brown sugar. Return to oven and bake for another 8-12 minutes, or until deep golden brown (amount of time will depend on your oven and the thickness of the bacon). Watch bacon carefully during the last 5 minutes as it can easily go from golden to burned. Remove bacon to a sheet of foil or parchment paper and allow to cool slightly. When cool enough to handle, slice bacon, width-wise, into ¼" slices. Set aside.
-
Place diced butternut squash on the second sheet pan. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle lightly with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Place in oven for about 15 minutes or until tender, but not mushy. Gently stir halfway through baking time. Remove from oven and set aside.
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Place walnuts on 3rd sheet pan. Drizzle with the 2 teaspoons of olive oil. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt. Toss well and place in oven for about 8 minutes or until beginning to turn golden. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
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Arrange candied bacon, barley, Feta, spinach, butternut squash, pomegranate arils (seeds) and walnuts in attractive rows on salad plates or shallow bowls. Drizzle with dressing or allow guests to dress their own salads. You can also toss all salad ingredients in a large bowl and divide between 4 individual plates or allow guests to serve their own salads.
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For the vinaigrette, combine all ingredients in a medium size jar. Cover with lid and shake vigorously.
The candied bacon, roasted butternut squash, walnuts, and dressing can all be made up to a day in advance. Refrigerate separately except for walnuts which can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Warm the bacon and squash on low power in the microwave. These ingredients should be warm or at room temperature, not hot.
Mark says
The ingredients in this salad sound so yummy but the combination ended up tasting bland. I'm not sure why but they just didn't compliment each other. The dressing was good and I will use it on other salads.
Chris Scheuer says
Sorry you didn't enjoy this, Mark. Everyone we've served it to has gone crazy.
Paula says
Oops, I now see in the instructions that the recipe will serve 4. Cant wait to make this.
Paula says
I too want to serve the butternut squash salad with a pork roast for a simple dinner party. Can you estimate how many people the salad will feed?
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Paula, I think if you're serving it alongside meat, you could probably get at least 6 servings. Enjoy!
seattlesue says
I made this salad this evening to "audition" it for Christmas Eve and it is delicious. I have 28 people coming and was anxious to find a recipe that could largely be made ahead. This fills the bill magnificently. The only change I made was to use dried cranberries instead of pomegranate arils (I love pom juice, but don't like the crunchy seeds). The candied bacon was great but the real star of this recipe (besides the wonderful barley) is the dressing. No overdone herbs, just nice balance between sweet and tart. To top it off, the salad is beautiful, too. Well done!
Chris Scheuer says
Yay! I had forgotten about this wonderful salad! Thanks so much for the reminder and for sharing your results. Merry Christmas!
Sarah says
This is a GREAT salad! I made it for my family for Thanksgiving and everyone raved about it. I have made it several times since as a delicious meal-superb every time! Heres my question...I am hosting a dinner party and will be serving this salad but would like to serve a whole meal along with it. Any suggestions of what I could serve along side it? Its such a statement on its own so Im lost:(
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Sarah,
I think this would be really nice with a simple roast chicken and a loaf of warm crusty bread.
We love that salad too!
Hope you have a wonderful dinner party. I wish I was going to be there! 🙂
Sarah says
Thanks so much! I finally decided on a roasted pork loin with bread! I wish you were coming, too, the more the merrier;)
Kelli says
I made this for an early Thanksgiving dinner and it was enough to eat off of for two days. We loved it and I already have requests in to make it for our actual Thanksgiving!! - The salad dressing was amazing. I am going to keep a jar on hand for all of our salads now! It's our new favorite!
Thanks for the recipe!!!!
Chris Scheuer says
We LOVE that salad too Kelli, thanks for taking the time to let us know, so happy you enjoyed it. Have a great Thanksgiving!
Karen C says
Beautiful salad. We have a grain mill here in Redding CA which has a product called
"Plump Soup Barley" The little barleys really are large and so delicious. This salad is a complete meal, I must make it soon.
easyfoodsmith says
Gorgeous salad...so vibrant and so delicious! An absolutely winner.
Kim G. says
How you do that Chris???? You are always so inspired when you prepare salads... just like me with breakfast:) This one too looks amazing!
Lenia says
A beautiful, colorful and tasteful salad!
Cheers,dear Chris!