11155 Roasted Delicata Squash Salad 30 mins 15 mins 4 servings Mon Jan 07 06:57:00 -0800 2008 Wed Sep 30 14:32:20 -0700 2009 Easy American CHOW http://www.chow.com/recipes/11155 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:32:20 GMT With sherry vinaigrette, spinach, and ricotta salata With warm sherry vinaigrette, spinach, pumpkin seeds, shallots, and ricotta salata. When fall comes around, pumpkin and butternut squash always seem to steal the spotlight from the other squash. This simple dish puts the sweet delicata front and center and pairs it with pumpkin seeds and ricotta salata.

What to buy: Ricotta salata is a semihard Italian cheese that can be found at most gourmet markets or Italian groceries. If you can’t find it, you can substitute crumbled feta (which will be a bit saltier) or just leave it out.

Saba is resqueezed and cooked wine-grape must (the leavings of grape pressings), and it tastes something like wine-flavored molasses. It can be found in gourmet grocery stores and online.

This recipe was featured as part of our 2009 Presidential Inauguration Menu and our Fall Ingredients photo gallery.

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  • Heat the oven to 400°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Brush squash rings with olive oil on both sides and place in a single layer on a baking sheet. Season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Roast until the underside of the squash is blistery and brown and fork tender, about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, transfer cleaned spinach to a large bowl, cover with a damp paper towel, and reserve in the refrigerator.
  • Once squash is almost ready, heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a small frying pan. When oil shimmers, add shallot and sprinkle with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cook until tender and beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the vinegar, scraping up any bits that are stuck to the bottom, and immediately remove from heat.
  • Pour shallot mixture over spinach and toss to combine. Season with additional salt and freshly ground black pepper as desired.
  • To serve, layer squash with spinach and top with pumpkin seeds. Sprinkle with ricotta salata, and drizzle with saba (if using).

    • Beverage pairing: Naia Verdejo, Spain. This dish has a pungent sharpness from the sherry vinegar, shallot, and ricotta salata. The squash brings a little sweetness. All of these are qualities shared by this Verdejo, which has a lemony sharpness mellowed by vanilla and honeysuckle.

    ]]>     http://www.chow.com/assets/2008/10/delicata2_290.jpg Kate Ramos 49 Soup/Salad/Sandwich 314 1 medium delicata squash, seeded and sliced into 1/2-inch-thick rings

    ]]>     2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for brushing**

    ]]>     97 4 ounces spinach, washed, dried, and torn into bite-size pieces (about 7 cups)

    ]]>     94 1 large shallot, thinly sliced

    ]]>     2 tablespoons sherry vinegar

    ]]>     1/3 cup roasted and salted pumpkin seeds**

    ]]>     2 ounces shaved ricotta salata

    ]]>     Saba, for drizzling (optional)

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