Curried Squash and Chickpea Salad

Caramelized, roasted squash is flavored with curry and tossed with slightly crispy chickpeas, and apple cider vinaigrette and mustard greens to be a stunning fall salad.

We are back in the states after a week-long trip to Mallorca, Spain. The island was more beautiful than either of us could have imagined and the trip was blissful and restorative – just what we both needed. I’m hoping to put together a post soon to share some photos and recap our adventures – stay tuned.

It feels as though I hit a “reset” button, and I’m working hard to keep my mind decluttered and my body healthy. In that spirit, I’m here to share a nourishing and wholesome salad, filled with hearty fall flavors. The star of the dish is delicata squash – which I’ve been roasting my fair share of since we’ve been home. Its tender skin does not require peeling, which is great for me, as I will do anything to avoid peeling a massive squash (especially butternut, because I’m weirdly allergic to its skin). It’s also relatively quick-cooking – when cut into slices it only takes about 25 minutes in a hot oven.

For this dish, I roasted the squash with some chickpeas for heft and protein. Both are tossed in a fall-forward mixture of olive oil, apple cider vinegar, lemon, and maple syrup, with a touch of curry and Aleppo pepper. Everything is roasted together until caramelized and soft (with a bit of crispness from the chickpeas). For the salad, I used mustard greens, which were included in my latest farm-share bag. I loved how their peppery bite paired with the sweetness of the squash, but feel free to substitute any green that you have – arugula would be delicious, as would baby kale. You really can’t go wrong.

See Also

South Indian Squash Curry

Click here for the vinaigrette recipe.

Curried Squash and Chickpea Salad

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This is one of those unfussy and deeply satisfying salads that is simple enough to prepare for a weekday lunch or dinner. It’s filled with fall’s best flavors, including my favorite – delicata squash. If you haven’t tried delicata, I would encourage you to do so. It will soon become one of your go-tos.

• Author: Julia Johnson
• Yield: 2 to 4 servings 1x
• Category: Salad

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

For the squash + chickpeas:

• 2 small delicata squash (about 1 – 1½ pounds total)
• 1 cup cooked chickpeas (if using canned, drain + rinse)
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• pinch of Aleppo pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• small handful of parsley leaves

For the vinaigrette:

• Click the link above.

For the salad:

• 1 bunch mustard greens
• toasted sunflower seeds (for garnish)

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Slice both squash in half crosswise. Scoop out the seeds and discard. Slice each half into 1/4-inch-thick rounds.
2. In a large bowl, toss the squash + chickpeas with the oil, vinegar, syrup, lemon juice, spices, salt, and parsley until evenly coated. Pour everything into a large cast iron skillet (preferably), or a large sheet pan. Arrange in a single layer and roast until the squash is caramelized and soft when pierced with a fork, about 25 – 30 minutes. Remove and let cool slightly.
3. To make the vinaigrette, click the link above.
4. In a large bowl, toss the mustard greens with a drizzle of the vinaigrette. Divide the greens between plates and top with the squash + chickpeas. Sprinkle with sunflower seeds to garnish and enjoy.