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Crispy Harvest Chopped Salad: Best Fall Recipe

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A comforting and textural fall salad featuring roasted chickpeas, kale, apples, and butternut squash, all tied together with a sweet-tart apple cider vinaigrette.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 large bunch curly kale, stems removed and chopped
  • 2 medium red apples (like Honeycrisp or Fuji), cored and diced
  • 1 small butternut squash, peeled and cubed
  • 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 stalks celery, diced
  • 1 can chickpeas, drained, rinsed, and patted dry
  • 1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, toasted
  • 1/4 cup pumpkin or sunflower seeds
  • 1/4 cup apple cider
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Smoked paprika and garlic powder (for chickpeas)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Remove kale stems and chop leaves. Place in a large bowl, sprinkle with salt and a drizzle of olive oil, and massage with hands for 2 minutes until tender. Set aside.
  3. Pat chickpeas very dry. Toss with olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 20-25 minutes until golden and crunchy. Let cool completely.
  4. Toss cubed butternut squash with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast on a separate sheet (or with chickpeas if space permits) for 20-25 minutes until tender and caramelized.
  5. In a small bowl, whisk together apple cider, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, salt, and pepper. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking constantly to emulsify.
  6. Chop apples and celery. Slice red onion thinly.
  7. Combine kale, apples, celery, onion, roasted squash, and cooled chickpeas in a large bowl.
  8. Add toasted nuts and seeds.
  9. Pour dressing over the salad just before serving and toss gently to coat evenly.
  10. Serve immediately to maintain crunch.

Notes

Pat chickpeas dry thoroughly to ensure crispiness. Chop all vegetables uniformly for consistent texture. Store dressing separately if meal prepping to keep greens crisp. Apples may brown slightly if stored; toss with lemon juice if preparing ahead.

Nutrition

Keywords: fall salad, harvest salad, roasted chickpeas, kale salad, apple cider vinaigrette, healthy dinner, meal prep, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free

Find it online: https://shimmersnack.com/crispy-harvest-chopped-salad-best-fall-recipe/