Roasted acorn squash barley salad is worthy of the holidays, but delicious for everyday, too. This recipe also happens to be vegan!
It's hard to believe we're already talking holiday recipes, but here we are! We've already had our first snow here in Colorado, so it only felt right to roast up my first acorn squash of the season. To be honest, I could not wait.
I love the crescent-moon shape of sliced acorn squash—I think it makes even a simple barley salad like this one party-worthy.
I didn't bother peeling this time, and I'm happy to report it was the right choice. The skin of an acorn squash (like delicata) is tender enough to eat, especially after thirty-plus minutes in a hot oven. (Leaving the skin on is also a convenient way to decrease at-home food waste.)
For this recipe, I spiced acorn squash with cumin and smoked paprika for flavor, and topped it with barley (a whole grain containing fiber, protein, magnesium, and iron), fresh kale (massaged with my hands to tenderize first), and toasted sunflower and sesame seeds (I used a mix of black and white for color).
Don't skip the toasted seeds—you'll be amazed at how much flavor they add to this dish!
All tossed with an easy drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and apple cider vinaigrette.
This recipe is holiday-worthy, but there's no need to wait until the big day to dig in.
Roasted Acorn Squash Barley Salad
Ingredients
Salad:
- 1 medium acorn squash, sliced into half-moons (about 2 ½ pounds)
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sunflower seeds (toasted if desired)
- 1 tablespoon black and white sesame seeds (toasted if desired)
- 1 cup cooked barley (see note)
- ½ cup massaged kale, thinly sliced
For serving:
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375º F and spread acorn squash slices on baking pan in a single layer.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together sunflower oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, cumin, paprika, and soy sauce. Pour over squash and roast 35-40 minutes, or until squash is fork-tender.
- In the same bowl, stir together barley and kale. Set aside.
- Remove squash from the oven and transfer to a serving dish. Top with barley and seeds. Serve with extra virgin olive oil and apple cider vinegar.
Notes
Enjoy this Acorn Squash Recipe? You might also like...
Roasted Acorn Squash with Pomegranate and Pistachios
Barbecue Jackfruit Squash Bowls
Save this Acorn Squash Barley Salad on Pinterest or share the recipe with a friend:
Ray-nelle Cobb says
What other squash would work besides acorn?
Thanks!
Stephanie McKercher, RDN says
Hi Ray-nelle, most squash varieties of squash will work well for this recipe—you may need to adjust cooking times slightly. (Roast the sliced squash until you can easily pierce the flesh with a fork.) I'd love to try this recipe with butternut squash. Let me know how it goes if you give it a try!
George Methu says
Found your post interesting to read. I cant wait to see your recipe soon. Good Luck for the upcoming update.
Stephanie McKercher, RDN says
Thanks, George!
Anne|Craving Something Healthy says
What a beautiful salad! Pinned and can't wait to make it 🙂
Stephanie McKercher, RDN says
Thanks Anne! Hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Lauren Harris-Pincus says
Beautiful! Whole grain salads are sooooo fantastic!
Stephanie McKercher, RDN says
Yay for whole grains! 🙂
Ashley says
Love squash on salads! Haven't had barely in ages though – sounds so good!
Stephanie McKercher, RDN says
Thanks Ashley! I had a major barley craving—it's so hearty!