Autumn Kale Salad
with Spiced Pecans, Delicata Squash and Cranberry Dressing
In 1986, Harmony Hill, located on the Hood Canal, opened its doors as a nonprofit retreat facility focusing on renewal and wellness. Their mission is to transform the lives of individuals affected by cancer and inspire healthy living for all. The heart of that mission is to support the survivorship of people affected by cancer – including their caregivers and health care professionals – with hope, healing and tools for positive change.
Harmony Hill’s no-fee cancer retreat programs provide support to enhance, not replace, conventional medical treatment. People living with a diagnosis should have access to practical resources for emotional, mental and spiritual healing, and Harmony Hill’s retreats, workshops, videos and other offerings provide much needed support. To learn more, visit harmonyhill.org.
This recipe really celebrates the flavors of the Thanksgiving season in a healthy and inviting way. Our mission in the Harmony Hill kitchen is to encourage people to incorporate more vegetables into their diet but to also enjoy them. Kale can be a challenging ingredient to work with, but its health benefits, availability in the Northwest almost year-round and its versatility make it one of the most overlooked vegetables. This salad is as deserving of a space on the dinner table as any other traditional item. Enjoy!
For the salad
1 bunch kale of any variety (curly, lacinato etc.), roughly chopped
For the dressing
1 c whole dried cranberries + ¼ cup for salad garnish
¼ c red wine vinegar
¼ c good olive oil
¼ tsp kosher salt
½ c water
1 Tbl sugar
For the squash
1 large delicata squash, seeded and cut into half-rounds, ¼ inch thick (skin on)
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
½ Tbl olive oil
For the nuts
2 c pecans (whole or pieces)
1½ Tbl maple syrup
¼ tsp ground cumin
1/8 tsp turmeric
¼ tsp ground clove
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
½ Tbl olive oil
dash kosher salt, to taste
Preheat the oven to 375º.
Put prepared kale in a large bowl. Combine all ingredients for the dressing into a blender and blend on medium speed until smooth. Add the dressing to the kale and coat well. Allow the greens to macerate for at least a half an hour before serving.
Toss the cut squash in oil, salt and pepper in a medium bowl and put on sheet pan for roasting. Combine all ingredients for the nuts in the same medium bowl and place them on a separate sheet pan (retain the bowl).
Put the delicata on the center rack for 3 minutes and then add the pan of pecans on the top rack and bake for another 6 minutes. During this time the squash should finish baking and should have golden brown edges. Also remove the nuts, return them to the bowl and toss them with a spatula until the maple syrup cools and stops sticking. Let the nuts and squash cool completely and top the salad with them and the remaining cranberries.






