Roasted Delicata Squash Avocado Salad

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No holiday spread is complete without a beautiful and festive salad! This Roasted Delicata Squash Avocado Salad is an elegant and flavorful addition to any table. Featuring creamy Avocados From Peru, tender roasted delicata squash, juicy blackberries, and crunchy toasted pecans, it’s tied together with a tangy apple cider vinaigrette. Perfect as a side or a light main dish, this salad is easy to prepare, bursting with fresh flavors that will have all your guests enjoying the salad!

Roasted Delicata Squash Avocado Salad

This Roasted Delicata Squash Avocado Salad is the holiday side dish you didn’t know you needed. It’s bright, beautiful, and packed with flavor that perfectly compliments every other dish. Made with the best of the best Avocados from Peru to bring a creamy richness to the dish. Alongside the creamy avocados is roasted delicata squash for a hint of sweetness and a buttery texture.

Juicy blackberries and toasted pecans provide the perfect balance of tang and crunch, all tied together with a light apple cider vinegar maple vinaigrette that’s just the right amount of sweet and tangy. It’s elegant yet easy to throw together, making it a total showstopper. This roasted salad is proof that healthy eating can be indulgent and delicious. Try it for your next holiday gathering or weeknight dinner—it’s a recipe you’ll fall in love with!

Why Is Roasted Delicata Squash So Good?

Roasted delicata squash is the unsung hero of fall vegetables in my humble opinion. I love how naturally sweet this squash is and how beautifully the edges caramelize when roasted in the oven. The fact that the skin is edible is also a major plus because it means preparing it is a breeze! It’s the perfect base for salads, grain bowls, or a simple roasted side dish.

Roasted Delicata Squash Avocado Salad Ingredients

  • Avocados From Peru: Creamy and buttery, these avocados add richness and balance to the salad. Their smooth texture complements the roasted delicata squash and tangy vinaigrette. 
  • Delicata Squash: Naturally sweet and nutty, this squash roasts to tender perfection with a caramelized exterior. Its edible skin makes it easy to prepare and full of nutrients.
  • Garlic Powder: Adds a subtle savory note to the roasted squash, enhancing its depth of flavor.
  • Baby Arugula: Peppery and crisp, arugula provides a fresh, vibrant base for the salad, balancing the richness of the squash and avocado. You can use any greens you’d like for the base but I love the flavour that arugula gives to this salad.
  • Blackberries: Juicy and tart, blackberries add a burst of color and sweetness that contrasts beautifully with the savory elements of the dish.
  • Toasted Pecans: Crunchy and nutty, pecans bring texture and warmth to the salad, tying together the flavors with their natural richness.
ripe avocado halves with pit on a white marble countertop
slicing delicata squash into thick half-moon pieces on a cutting board

Dressing Ingredients

  • Apple Cider Vinegar: Bright and tangy, it serves as the acidic base of the dressing, enhancing the salad’s overall flavor.
  • Dijon Mustard: Adds a subtle sharpness and depth to the vinaigrette, helping to emulsify the ingredients.
  • Maple Syrup: Naturally sweet, it balances the acidity of the vinegar and mustard while complementing the squash’s caramelized flavor.
  • Tahini: Creamy and nutty, tahini gives the dressing and smooth and luxurious texture without any dairy.

What to Look for When Buying Delicata Squash

Choose delicata squash that is firm, with no soft spots or bruises. The skin should have vibrant yellow stripes and deep green accents, indicating ripeness. A medium delicata squash is perfect for roasting and yields enough for this recipe!

delicata squash cut in half lengthwise on a wooden cutting board beside a chef’s knife

Can You Eat the Skin on Delicata Squash?

Yes! One of the best things about delicata squash is its thin, edible skin, which softens beautifully when roasted. No peeling means less prep time and added nutrients in every bite. If you’re up for it, roast an extra squash and refrigerate for easy meal prep. I love having ready-roasted vegetables in the fridge as it makes throwing a quick salad or grain bowl together in a flash.

How to Prepare Delicata Squash for Roasting

Wash the squash thoroughly to remove any dirt or debris. Slice the squash lengthwise and scoop out the seeds using a spoon. Cut into 1/8” thick half-moon slices for even roasting. Check out this blog to see all about cleaning and roasting delicata squash if you have more questions!

How to Make This Roasted Delicata Squash Avocado Salad

Prep the Squash & Roast

Slice the delicata squash into 1/8” half-moons and spread on a rimmed baking sheet. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Bake at 425°F for 20-25 minutes until the squash is golden brown and tender.

Make the Dressing

Whisk apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, tahini, and Dijon mustard in a small bowl until smooth. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.

Assemble the Salad

Add the baby arugula to a large bowl and top with your roasted delicata squash, avocado slices, blackberries, and toasted pecans. Add the dressing when you are ready to toss and serve the salad. Gently toss to ensure your creamy avocado and delicata squash keep their form!

How to Store Leftover Delicata Squash

If you have leftover squash, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat on a baking sheet at 350°F for 5-7 minutes to restore its texture before adding to salads or bowls.

What to Serve with This Roasted Delicata Squash Avocado Salad

This Roasted Delicata Squash Avocado Salad is a versatile side that complements a variety of dishes. I’m making this to go alongside the big holiday spread I will be having with my family. Its flavors are so complimentary to this time of the year and I just know everyone will love it! If you’re not making it for the holidays you can also serve it alongside grain dishes such as quinoa, farro, or wild rice to add depth and texture. 

Why You’ll Love This Salad

You’ll love this Roasted Delicata Squash Avocado Salad for so many reasons! Its vibrant colors from the golden squash, creamy green avocado, and deep purple blackberries make it a festive showstopper that looks stunning on any table. Beyond its beauty, it’s packed with fiber, healthy fats, and essential nutrients, making it a nourishing and delicious choice. Salads always aid in digestion so it’s the perfect complimentary dish to go with the typical heavy holiday meals and with minimal prep it will be done in no time, leaving you more time to enjoy the festivities. 

Did you try this recipe?

Leave a comment and rating below and try these recipes next:

Avocado Sweet Potato Lentil Salad

Avocado Citrus Salad

Fall Orzo Salad

Jackie Akerberg

Author of the Clean Vegan Cookbook, Food Blogger and Recipe Developer from Des Moines, Iowa. 

Jackfruitful Kitchen has proudly been featured in Forks Over Knives, Vegan Bowls, Vegan Food and Living, and DSM Magazine.

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Arugula salad with roasted delicata squash, avocado, blackberries, pecans, and creamy dressing
Jackie Akerberg

Roasted Delicata Squash Avocado Salad

5 from 1 vote
No holiday spread is complete without a beautiful and festive salad! This Roasted Delicata Squash Avocado Salad is an elegant and flavorful addition to any table. Featuring creamy Avocados From Peru, tender roasted delicata squash, juicy blackberries, and crunchy toasted pecans, it’s tied together with a tangy apple cider vinaigrette. Perfect as a side or a light main dish, this salad is easy to prepare, bursting with fresh flavors that will have all your guests enjoying the salad!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
Calories: 130

Equipment

  • Oven

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Avocados From Peru avocado, sliced into 1/8” thick half moons
  • 1 delicata squash, sliced into 1/8” thick half moons
  • ½ tsp salt and pepper
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • 5 oz baby arugula
  • 5 oz blackberries
  • ¼ cup toasted pecans, chopped
Dressing Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • ½ tsp dijon mustard
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp tahini*
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 425 and line a large metal baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Spread the squash on the baking sheet and season with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Optional to spray with a light coating of avocado oil. Toss to combine and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden.
  3. Meanwhile, prepare the dressing by adding all ingredients to a jar and whisking to combine. Season to taste by adjusting the maple syrup and vinegar to your liking. Set aside.
  4. Add the arugula to a large salad bowl and top with roasted squash, avocado, berries and pecans. Drizzle with dressing right before serving and toss to combine.
  5. If preparing ahead of time, you can make it 48 hours in advance, but wait to dress until right before serving.

Notes

*Optional to sub tahini for olive oil if not oil-free.

Nutrition

Serving 1servingCalories 130kcalCarbohydrates 14gProtein 3gFat 8gSaturated Fat 1gPolyunsaturated Fat 2gMonounsaturated Fat 5gSodium 160mgPotassium 461mgFiber 4gSugar 6gVitamin A 1274IUVitamin C 16mgCalcium 66mgIron 1mg

*Macros are provided as an estimate for convenience. Your final numbers will vary depending on ingredient brands, substitutions, and how you portion the recipe.

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2 Responses

  1. 5 stars
    This was the best salad I had for a long time.i truly enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing the recipe

5 from 1 vote

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