Winter Panzanella Salad with Kale and Roasted Squash
Think winter produce is a snore? This cozy winter panzanella salad recipe is packed with all of the best things. From the dark and brooding Tuscan kale to the roasted delicata squash, sweet tart pomegranate and cranberries, this panzanella recipe is so good you’ll be craving salad, no matter the weather!
Maybe I didn’t get the memo, but even with all the plant-based recipes out there, this dietitian is still obsessed with kale salads. The first reason is FLAVOUR. The second reason is that it holds up so well to dressing so leftovers keep. And this winter panzanella salad recipe, which is sponsored by my friends at Silver Hills Bakery, is sure to become your new favourite kale salad!
What is a panzanella salad?
Panzanella salads hail from Tuscany, assumedly as a delicious way to use up stale bread. We think of classic panzanella salads as tomatoes and bread but amazingly enough, early versions of the salad had a base of onions and purslane as tomatoes didn’t arrive in Italy until later. Traditionally, stale bread was soaked in water and squeezed dry to create a chewy crouton. Considered a classic summer salad, traditional panzanella salads feature tomatoes, onion, garlic, basil and of course, stale bread.
How to make a winter panzanella salad
For this panzanella-inspired winter salad, I’m starting with a hearty winter green – kale – and opting for fibre-rich Silver Hills Bakery Sprouted Grain Bread. To make it, sprouted grains are crushed into dough, as opposed to being milled into flour. The result? A beautifully textured, hearty and satisfying slice that helps to make this salad even more filling. Plus, each slice has 4-5 grams of fibre and 6 grams of plant-based protein!
You’ll need just 7 ingredients for the salad (a few more for the dressing!) and just 4 simple steps:
- Roasting the squash and bread: after tossing with olive oil, salt and pepper, roast the squash at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, add the bread to the baking sheet and roast for 10 minutes more.
- Prep the vegetables: wash and slice the tuscan kale, finely dice the onion, de-seed the pomegranate (or open the container of arils!)
- Shake up the dressing: in a jam jar, add oil, balsamic, lemon juice, garlic, Dijon and maple syrup with salt and pepper and shake to blend.
- Arrange the salad: In a large salad bowl, massage the kale with a third of the dressing for a minute so it softens. Then top with squash, toasted bread, onion, pomegranate arils and cranberries and drizzle with a bit more dressing.
How to make this recipe low FODMAP
This delicious salad requires only a few simple low FODMAP swaps so you can enjoy it while eating low FODMAP for your IBS!
Step One: Use a low FODMAP, gluten free bread. Step two: Sub kabocha or patty pan squash, which are low FODMAP. Step three: Ditch the red onion. Step four: Ditch the garlic in the dressing, sub garlic flavoured low FODMAP olive oil if you have it!
Looking for more healthy kale salad recipes?
Winter Panzanella Salad with Kale and Roasted Squash
Ingredients
- 4 cups cubed or torn Silver Hills Bakery sprouted grain bread, or your favourite gluten free bread
- 1 pound delicata or acorn squash, sliced into 1 inch slices
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 bunch Tuscan (lacinato) kale, tough stem removed, finely sliced
- ¼ cup pomegranate arils
- ¼ cup red onion, finely diced
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- 1 batch Creamy Balsamic Dressing
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400° Fahrenheit (200° Celsius). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Place squash on one half of sheet, toss with 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of oil, a pinch of salt and some pepper.
- Roast for 10 minutes, remove from heat and flip squash. In a medium bowl, toss bread with 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of oil, salt and pepper and place on baking sheet with squash. Roast for 10-12 minutes more until squash is tender, and bread is toasted and crisp at the edges. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Meanwhile, if you haven't already, shake up the dressing.
- Place kale in a salad bowl. Drizzle over a third of the dressing and massage kale until it softens and wilts a bit.
- Top with toasted bread, squash, onion, pomegranate and cranberries. Drizzle with a bit more dressing, and serve with remaining dressing.
- Will keep, covered, in the fridge for up to 2 days.
4 Comments on “Winter Panzanella Salad with Kale and Roasted Squash”
My daughter, Blythe just made this for us & it is a fabulous recipe! It will be one of my favorites from now on. Thanks so much for the recipe…….:)
So glad you all liked it!
Is it best to serve hot or room temp?
You can serve it with the squash fresh out of the oven (nice on a chilly day) or room temperature, as you wish!