Butternut Squash: Roasted Butternut Squash Panzanella

Source: Taste of Home

Perfect side dish

Ingredients

  • 4 c. cubed sourdough bread (6 slices)
  • 2 Tbls. olive oil
  • 1 medium butternut squash (3 lbs.), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • ½ t. salt
  • ½ t. ground ginger
  • ½ t. ground cumin
  • ½ t. black pepper
  • 3 Tbls. olive oil
  • 1 c. salted shelled pumpkin seeds (pepitas) - see Note below
  • 1 c. dried cranberries
  • 4 shallots, finely chopped (about ½ cup)

Dressing

  • 1/3 c. red wine vinegar
  • ¼ c. maple syrup
  • 2 Tbls. prepared horseradish
  • ½ t. salt
  • ½ t. pepper
  • ¼ c. olive oil

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place bread cubes in a 15x10x1-nch baking pan; toss with 2 Tbls. olive oil. Bake 15 minutes or until toasted, stirring twice. Remove from oven to cool; set aside.

Place squash in a greased 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Mix seasonings and 3 Tbls. olive oil; drizzle over squash and toss to coat. Roast 35 minutes or until tender and lightly browned, stirring occasionally.

In a large bowl, combine bread cubes, squash, pumpkin seeds, cranberries and shallots.

Dressing: In a small saucepan, combine dressing ingredients, except the oil. Heat through, stirring to blend. Remove from heat; gradually whisk in oil until blended.

Drizzle ½ cup dressing over salad and toss to combine. Save remaining dressing for another use.

NOTE: Serves 8. I couldn't find pepitas so I bought a snack mix that had them in and took out the peanuts and almonds. Then only used 3/4 cup dried cranberries because the snack mix contained them and other dried fruit. See picture.