Brazil Nut Free Roasted Squash Salad with Pomegranate and Pepitas
Warm, spiced butternut squash meets peppery arugula, jewel-bright pomegranate arils, and crunchy pepitas in a salad that feels genuinely celebratory without requiring much effort. The squash gets tossed in turmeric, cinnamon, and ginger before hitting a hot oven, and those warm spices do a lot of heavy lifting — the edges caramelize beautifully and the whole kitchen smells incredible. A creamy tahini-lemon dressing ties everything together with a nutty, citrusy tang that balances the sweetness of the squash and the maple syrup perfectly. Every ingredient here is naturally free from tree nut concerns, so you can serve it confidently at a dinner party or pack it for lunch without second-guessing labels. The pepitas add that satisfying crunch you'd normally expect from a nut-heavy salad topping, proving you don't need to compromise on texture or flavor. Serve it while the squash is still warm so it gently wilts the arugula just enough — that contrast of temperatures is what makes this one genuinely hard to stop eating.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the roasted squash
- 1 medium butternut squash (about 2 lb), peeled and cut into ¾-inch cubes
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp salt
For the dressing
- 3 tbsp tahini
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 1 large lemon)
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1 small garlic clove, finely grated
- 2–3 tbsp water, to thin
- ¼ tsp salt
For the salad
- 5 oz baby arugula
- ¾ cup pomegranate arils (from about ½ medium pomegranate)
- ⅓ cup dry-roasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
- ¼ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- 2
In a large mixing bowl, toss the squash cubes with 2 tbsp olive oil, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, and 1/2 tsp salt until evenly coated. Spread in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between pieces.
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