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Autumn Caesar Salad with Delicata Squash Croutons

Autumn caesar salad with delicata squash croutons—roasted golden squash rings plus chopped romaine and kale tossed in creamy Caesar dressing. Massage the kale briefly, then top with shaved Parmesan and pepitas for crunchy, autumnal texture.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 420
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Delicata squash
  • 1 delicata squash Halved, seeded, and sliced into 1/2-inch half-moons.
Seasoning for squash
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • 0.25 tsp smoked paprika
  • 0.5 tsp salt
Greens
  • 1 romaine Chopped.
  • 3 cup lacinato kale Stemmed and chopped.
Caesar components
  • 0.5 cup caesar dressing
  • 0.5 cup shaved Parmesan
Toppings
  • 0.25 cup roasted pepitas
  • 1 lemon Cut into wedges.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Roast the delicata squash
  1. Preheat the oven to 425F. Toss the delicata squash with olive oil, maple syrup, smoked paprika, and salt.
  2. Spread the squash on a sheet pan in a single layer. Roast for 22-25 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crisp at the edges.
Toss and assemble
  1. Add the lacinato kale to a bowl and massage it with 1 tablespoon of the caesar dressing for 1 minute to soften.
  2. Add the chopped romaine and toss with the remaining caesar dressing until evenly coated.
  3. Top the salad with the roasted squash croutons, shaved Parmesan, and roasted pepitas.
  4. Serve immediately with lemon wedges on the side.

Notes

Pro tip: slice the delicata squash into uniform 1/2-inch half-moons so they roast evenly and develop crisp edges. Store dressed salad components separately; roast squash and prep greens up to 3 days in the fridge, then assemble and dress within 1 day for best crunch. Freeze roasted squash in an airtight container up to 2 months and re-crisp in a hot oven. For a lighter option, swap in a reduced-fat Caesar dressing and use a slightly smaller amount of Parmesan.