This salad is a great one! I love the flavor combination and the assortment of textures. The beauty here is it’s easily customizable to suit your taste preference or what you have on hand. Squash may be pan or deep fried but air frying keeps it all light and healthful and avoids mess!

RECIPE

(special equipment- air fryer and a lunch size paper bag)

serves 2 dinner salads or 4 side salads

prepare the squash-

1 delicata squash, about 1 lb,

Cut into smile shaped slices about 1/3”-1/2” thick.

Toss with 1 Tbs olive oil and massage to coat. Season with sea salt and fresh ground pepper. Bake at 375F for 15 mins. Set aside to cool.

While squash bakes, prepare batter and coating.

Batter-

In a large bowl, whisk:

1/2 cup AP flour, plus 2 Tbs, separated

1/2 cup milk (may be plant based)

1/2 cup seltzer or beer

2 Tbs olive oil

1 egg (room temp)

Small pinch nutmeg

Sea salt

Fresh ground pepper

(You want to achieve a thin pancake batter)

Dry coating-

In a medium bowl, stir together:

1 cup panko (I like to break it up the flakes a little with the back of a large spoon or cup)

1 tsp flaky sea salt

Fresh ground pepper

Pinch cayenne

Preheat air fryer to 400F, per instructions.

Once squash has cooled a bit (it can be warm), add to a paper bag with 2 Tbs AP flour and shake to coat. Alternatively, you may simply dredge, but I find the paper bag method a little less messy.

Dredge each slice through batter and then into panko mixture.

Lay onto air fryer rack in a single layer and “fry” for 15-20 mins, or until golden brown all around.

Chopped Salad-

Half bunch lacinato kale, shredded

1 crisp Bosc pear, diced

4 oz feta, crumbled

1/3 cup (approx) pomegranate arils

1/2 cup chopped pecans

(You may substitute arugula or other leafy greens, ricotta salata, blue cheese, sharp cheddar, apple, dried cranberries, cherries, raisins, currants, walnuts, hazelnuts, pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds… you get the picture!)

Vinaigrette-

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/2 tsp Dijon

Squirt of honey

Sea salt

Fresh ground pepper

While squash is in the air fryer, assemble chopped salad. Massage kale with 2 Tbs of the dressing. Toss all ingredients together and add additional vinaigrette to suit your taste.

Remove squash from air fryer and plate. Top with chopped salad and serve immediately! Enjoy!!!