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Green Salads | November 21, 2013

Harvest Salad with Buttermilk Sage Dressing

Harvest Salad with Buttermilk Sage Dressing
Harvest Salad with Buttermilk Sage Dressing
Harvest Salad with Buttermilk Sage Dressing


Tuesday night I made a salad for a creative group of crafters and bloggers who attended
“Spark Your Holidays Soiree” put on by Margie Romney -Aslett (Justagirl) and hosted by Jamie Soucy. I didn’t stay for the festivities, but heard the ladies who attended had a fabulous time! I was amazed at Jamie’s gorgeous fully decorated Christmas house and the work Margie put into assembling craft kits. It was all so festive, that I may have to sign up next time they have an event and try my hand at creating outside of the kitchen…

I wanted to share a salad that was savory and a reflection of the season. I started with greens and decided on three main ingredients for toppings: roasted butternut squash, pomegranates and avocados. Keeping the dressing harvest-style, I topped the salad with pumpkin seeds and made a basic buttermilk dressing and added fresh sage. It was simple, fresh and a bit out of the ordinary.
This dish is perfect for your holiday table, not your mother’s ho-hum green salad, and also a change from the fruit-candied nut-cheese salad we see at almost every holiday gathering.
One week till Thanksgiving!
So excited.

Harvest Salad with Buttermilk Sage Dressing

Author A Bountiful Kitchen

Ingredients

Salad:

  • 8-10 cups Romaine Lettuce chopped
  • 8-10 cups spinach preferably baby spinach
  • 3 cups butternut squash peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
  • 1 ripe and slightly firm avocado
  • 1 large pomegranate seeded or about 1 – 1 1/2 cups of seeds
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds green type, roasted, salted

Buttermilk Sage Dressing:

  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 cup mayo light is ok, but regular is better
  • 5-7 fresh sage leaves chopped
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

  1. Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth or place ingredients in container and shake or use an immersion blender. The dressing will keep for a week refrigerated.

To assemble salad:

  1. About 1 hour before assembling salad- Preheat oven to 450 convection, or 500 bake. Move rack to middle of oven.
  2. Place butternut squash on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with coarse salt and pepper. Drizzle with about 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil. Roast just until squash begins to turn color and get a nice brown edge. This usually takes about 15 minutes on convection or 20 in a regular bake setting. Watch closely so it does not burn.
  3. Remove from oven and let cool completely.
  4. Place greens on a large platter or bowl.
  5. Top with cooled roasted squash, chunked avocado and sprinkle with pomegranate seeds.
  6. When ready to serve, sprinkle generously with pumpkin seeds.
  7. Serve with dressing on the side.

Recipe Notes

-I doubled this salad for a group of 50-60 women. I used 3 heads of Costco regular (not mini) Romaine heads, 1/2 box of baby organic Spinach and 1 container of pre-cut butternut squash. I also used about 1 1/2 containers of pre-seeded pom seeds also purchased at Costco.-For buttermilk dressings, I like to purchase Winder Dairy buttermilk. It is a bit thicker than other brands and whips up nicely in dressings. My second choice is Meadow Gold. Both brands found in Utah.

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  1. This is such a delicious salad. Thank you for sharing it with us at the soiree. I can't wait to make it for my family.

    It was also fun to find out we have both have a great love for the Cutlers.
    Thank you again.