Salad/Salad Dressing

Creamy Delicata Squash and Wild Rice Salad

Creamy Delicata Squash and Wild Rice Salad - a tasty combo of roasted squash, fresh pears, wild rice and chicken. Tossed with a creamy dressing.
Creamy Delicata Squash and Wild Rice Salad. Life changed forever.

I first tried delicata squash when I was working at Sur La Table as a cooking class assistant. I’d never eaten winter squash with the skin on before, and really, it was life altering. No peeling = less hassle = quicker dinner = happy camper. There are only a few winter squash that you can get away with keeping the skin on, and this is one of them. The skin becomes soft, the inside is creamy and peppered with salt and roasty marks. Mmmm. Plus, they are just so cute.

Creamy Delicata Squash and Wild Rice Salad - a tasty combo of roasted squash, fresh pears, wild rice and chicken. Tossed with a creamy dressing.


The dressing for this salad is made with walnut oil, which if you haven’t tried it, you need to. We recommend this brand. You can find it in some grocery stores, or you can order it online. Walnut oil has a definite nutty, rich flavor that totally takes this salad up like 15 notches. So it really is a necessity for this salad to reach its full potential.

Creamy Delicata Squash and Wild Rice Salad - a tasty combo of roasted squash, fresh pears, wild rice and chicken. Tossed with a creamy dressing.
Give this creamy delicata a try and let us know how you like it! We don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Creamy Delicata Squash and Wild Rice Salad

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Yield: 4-6

Ingredients

    Salad
  • 1 cup cooked wild rice
  • 2 delicata squash
  • 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • 4 cups spinach
  • 2 ripe pears
  • 1/2 cup feta cheese
  • 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
  • Chicken
  • 1 cup shredded or cubed chicken, cooked
  • 1 tsp. thyme
  • 1 tsp. dried onion
  • 1/2 tsp. paprika
  • 1/2 tsp. chili powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Dressing
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp. honey mustard
  • 1/4 cup walnut oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

    Salad
  1. Prepare rice: cook according to directions on package. Set aside to cool.
  2. Prepare squash: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Rinse squash, slice in half (the long way) and scoop out seeds and stringy stuff. Chop in 1/2-inch thick slices, leaving the skin on. Toss with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and roast until fork-tender, 15-20 minutes. Set aside to cool.
  3. Prepare chicken: place cooked and cubed/shredded chicken in a plastic ziploc bag and add spices. Seal the bag and shake to coat chicken with seasonings. Set aside.
  4. Assemble salad: chop pears into bite-sized pieces. Combine spinach, squash, rice, and chicken. Toss with salad dressing and top with feta cheese and crushed walnuts.
  5. Salad dressing
  6. Combine maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, and honey mustard in a salad dressing shaker or mason jar. Slowly drizzle in walnut oil while mixing to emulsify.
  7. Add salt and pepper to taste and toss into salad.
https://www.kiwiandcarrot.com/creamy-delicata-squash-and-wild-rice-salad/

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19 Comments

  • Reply Lauren November 8, 2016 at 1:47 pm

    Sounds delicious!

    There are few squashes I love more than butternut and this is one of them. The first (and unfortunately only) time I got to try it was when I was attending college at the Art Institute and their cooking class did a delicata squash and pomegranate salad.

    You have my subscription! Love your recipes.

    • Reply Sarah November 8, 2016 at 10:51 pm

      Lauren, Thanks for subscribing! It sounds like it’s time for you to whip up some delicata again! And that’s so cool you took a cooking class at the Art Institute! I bet you learned a ton.

      • Reply Lauren November 9, 2016 at 11:17 am

        Oh, I didn’t actually get to take a cooking class, unfortunately! I went for media arts. I just got to enjoy what the cooking students made. I only wish I had gone for cooking! ๐Ÿ˜›

  • Reply Kushi November 8, 2016 at 2:39 pm

    I can’t wait to try this out. Sounds and looks delicious!

    • Reply Sarah November 8, 2016 at 10:52 pm

      Thanks Kushi! Hope you like it ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Reply Happy Simple Living November 8, 2016 at 2:51 pm

    What a beautiful salad! I love the scalloped effect of the squash. This combination sounds absolutely amazing (healthy, too), and I can’t wait to try it!

    • Reply Sarah November 8, 2016 at 10:53 pm

      Right? I think one of the reasons I love delicata squash so much is because it looks so pretty haha. Give it a try and let us know what you think!

  • Reply Barbara November 8, 2016 at 3:47 pm

    Yum. I love all kinds of squash. Your salad looks lovely. ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Reply Sarah November 8, 2016 at 10:53 pm

      Thanks Barbara! Hope you like it!

  • Reply Heather November 8, 2016 at 4:09 pm

    This looks amazing! They have sooooo much delicata squash still for sale at my local market. Can’t wait to try this out. ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Reply Sarah November 8, 2016 at 10:54 pm

      Heather, take advantage while you can! Most people have a hard time finding delicata for sale. Hope you like the salad!

  • Reply patrick November 8, 2016 at 5:25 pm

    looks delicious! just curious about the creamy part is that the squash?

    • Reply Sarah November 8, 2016 at 10:55 pm

      Yup! Roasted delicata has a creamy texture that’s just divinity. Give it a try and let us know what you think!

  • Reply Karyl November 8, 2016 at 9:34 pm

    I’ve never heard of delicata squash, but I love that you can keep the skin on. I’ll have to try this recipe. Thanks for sharing!

    • Reply Sarah November 8, 2016 at 10:55 pm

      Karyl, It’s definitely not as common as other squash, but seriously might be my favorite one. Give it a try!

  • Reply Mummy Times Two November 9, 2016 at 12:55 am

    Wow that looks like such a delicious salad, will have to give it a try for sure x

    • Reply Sarah November 9, 2016 at 10:00 am

      Thanks! Hope you like it ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Reply Jen | A Sip of Bliss November 9, 2016 at 2:39 pm

    Yum! I love delicata squash. It has such a lovely texture.

    • Reply Elizabeth November 10, 2016 at 2:03 pm

      Jen, so true! Delicate is delish. Hope you like this one!

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