Delicata Squash, Pear, Arugula and Pomegranate Salad
- Creamy Toasted Pecan Dressing
- ½ cup pecan halves, toasted
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoons packed dark brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup neutral oil, such as sunflower oil
- Salad
- 1 large delicata squash
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 firm ripe USA Pear, such as Green Bartlett or Concorde
- ½ teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 6 ounces baby arugula
- ¼ cup pomegranate seeds
For the dressing: Place the toasted pecans into a blender or food processor and pulse until they become a fine powder. Add the honey, sugar, lemon, vinegar, and salt and puree until combined. With the machine running, slowly pour in the oil to emulsify the dressing. Transfer to a jar and refrigerate until ready to use.
For the salad: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Trim the ends off of the squash and cut into 6 evenly sized rings. Remove the seeds and place onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper or a silicone liner. Drizzle with the oil and sprinkle with salt and toss to coat. Arrange the squash in a single layer and bake for 30-40 minutes or until the squash is just cooked through. In the meantime, slice the pear into a fine julienne either by hand or using a mandoline. Place in a large bowl and toss with the ½ teaspoon of lemon juice. Add the arugula and gently toss to mix. When the squash is done, transfer to individual plates and fill each ring with a generous handful of the arugula and pears. Drizzle each salad with the pecan dressing and sprinkle with the pomegranate seeds.
- Serving Size: 7 oz
- Calories: 310
- Fat: 27g
- Carbohydrate: 18g
- Dietary Fiber: 4g
- Dietary Fiber: 3g
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