Roasted Autumn Panzanella Salad.
Remember last week when I took a sip of dish soap thinking that it was my bottle of water?
Well, I totally feel like I should do that today.
Not only for saying the “s” word on a Friday, but also because after yesterday I can’t stop thinking about brown butter. Or Ryan Gosling. Or Ryan Gosling drenched in brown butter.
I’ve never actually had a panzanella salad. This one time at band camp about four years ago I got really, really sick… I had done an insane upper body workout at the gym which led to me not being able to lift my arms over my head for one week straight (no lie) which then turned into a sinus infection which then turned into strept throat which then led me to wake up on the couch in a cold sweat at 4AM, weeping from pain and shuffling out to the kitchen to down some Advil since SOMEHOW there were nails scraping the back of my mouth.
So I took the Advil but my throat was so messed up that the ADVIL GOT LODGED INSIDE MY THROAT. I could still swallow, but it was stuck there and I could feel it which led to me having a massive panic attack and screaming on the kitchen floor, flipping out assuming I was going to die and making my mom call the doctor who assured her that if I could swallow I was FINE. Then the next day I had to get blood taken and I could still feel the pill in my throat and the minute I saw the nurse I’m all “OMG I have a pill stuck in my throat” and she didn’t really believe me or think it was a big deal, and then six months later when I got blood taken again I had the same nurse and she said “aw, you’re the girl who thought she had a gel capsule lodged in her throat! I guess you’re all better now,” to which I replied “um, no.
I’m the girl who DID have a pill lodged my in throat for days and it scarred me for life. Now drain me of blood please.”
That’s all very relevant (or not) because while I was “becoming one” with the couch that week I was sick, I watched Rachael Ray make a panzanella salad. Then I went stir crazy and flipped out on my mom and was all “why didn’t YOU ever make a panzanella salad? God, why can’t we just be Italian? There is so much good food I’ve been deprived of!” Then I wailed for about 30 minutes before passing out for the next three days, which was probably the best thing that’s ever happened to my relationship because Mr. How Sweet witnessed my true colors that week.
Imagine when I woke up and was miraculously healed!
Needless to say… I never made that panzanella salad. I don’t even know what’s in a panzanella salad. What makes it so special? I’m sure I did this wrong. Is it just a panzanella salad because it has bread?
Oh well… it is now.
I ate this for lunch this week. Want to know why? I’m sure you’re dyyyying to know because my life is so interesting. Really.
I’m going on week three of playing single lady and while I secretly (or… not so secretly) freaking love it, it’s starting to make me lose my mahrbles. That’s “marbles.” Said with an “h” in it. ‘Case you didn’t get it.
A positive? There has been a nice lack of Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders plastered on my TV screen. A negative? Phone calls at 12:30AM regarding the “benefits” of Beavis and Butthead being back on MTV. I’ll never be sold on that.
So… I ate this salad because Mr. How Sweet sent me a text message that begged “can you please, pretty pretty please make me the beer bbq chicken for lunch when I get home Friday? And can we eat it with the beer mac and cheese? That just sounds soooo good. I miss your cooking so much! And can we have the bacon-roasted brussels sprouts as a side too? You know I need sides. And… and… maybe if it’s not too much to ask, you can make me some chocolate chip cookies? Maybe even those ones with coffee… err, toffee, because I know you loved them.”
Oh. Sure! I’ll make this entire meal filled with beer and butter and bacon and butter and cheese. Sounds good! Because we aren’t approaching the holiday season or anything. Because it’s not like we bought Halloween candy last week (the big bars, of course) and I accidentally on purpose tore in to it… on Monday. Ā Maybe afterwards we can go take our blood pressure, get a stress test and check our cholesterol levels? Cool.
In his defense, he didn’t really use all those words like “pretty please.” He’s much cooler than that. And I swear he didn’t pay me to say that with a new pair of heels or anything. Definitely not.
Roasted Autumn Panzanella Salad
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small butternut squash, peeled and cubed
- 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 2 apples, chopped (I left the skin on)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3-4 cups fresh arugula
- 4-5 thick slices multigrain bread, cut into chunks
- 1/3 cup pomegranate arils, or the arils from one pomegranate
spiced pomegranate vinaigretteĀ
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/4 cup pomegranate juice
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- pinches of: salt, pepper & nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix salt, pepper, chili powder, cinnamon, and garlic powder in a small bowl.
- In a large bowl, mix sweet potato and squash chunks, then drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil on top and mix to coat with your hands. Add about 3/4 of the spice mixture, and mix again to coat. Lay on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, flipping once.
- After 20 minutes, toss apple chunks with remaining spice mixture. Add apple to the baking sheet and bake for another 25 minutes, tossing once or twice.
- Let squash, potatoes and apple cool, then add bread chunks to the baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden and crispy. Drizzle with a bit of olive oil if desired.
- In a large bowl, combine arugula with roasted fruit, veg and bread cubes. Toss with about 1/4 cup of dressing (or more/less) then sprinkle with pom arils. Serve immediately.
spiced pomegranate vinaigretteĀ
- Combine mustard, honey, pom juice, vinegar, salt, pepper and nutmeg in a bowl and whisk. Stream in olive oil while constantly whisking until dressing emulsifies. Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Did you make this recipe?
Be sure to follow @howsweeteats on instagram and tag #howsweeteats. You can also post a photo of your recipe to our facebook page.
I appreciate you so much!
Now you see why I needed all those pictures. I had a lot to say. Hmmpf.
109 Comments on “Roasted Autumn Panzanella Salad.”
I dont think I have ever had a panzanella salad either – deprived, I tell ya. And then instead of marrying into an Italian family, I married Dutch.
You had me at pomegranate seeds.
I totes agree with partners (heh, Roo hates it when I call him that) seeing you at your worst before things get “serious.” And by serious, I mean what you thought they saw was your worst, wasn’t, and then they find you naked on the bathroom tile, with a cat asleep on your face, all the result of you fighting a terrible fever the last night before.
I mean, hypothetically.
The salad looks awesome. The green with the lighter/brighter veggies….it all just pops!
The Spiced Pomegranate Vinaigrette…I could just drink that straight up.
Band camp. I was cracking up at that. Not at the advil lodged in throat part. But I was in band. And went to band camps :)
There is absolutely nothing that I don’t love in your recipe! Sounds like a nice comforting salad that will be perfect for my Saturday lunch! I can’t wait!! Thank you!
Looks so yummy! I did one recently but with roasted beats and goat cheese (Tyler Florence) I need to try this one next!
I don’t think I’ve had panzanella salad before either. This looks right up my alley, though! How could it be bad when you add carbs to salad?
This is sooo perfect for this time of year!
Since I love all things salad and I’m a HUGE fan of crunchy toasted bread on these salads I can safely say that Panzanella is my favorite salad. I love the crunchy chunks! Now, seriously, did you have a nurse that was that big of an a**? That is horrible. I hate inconsiderate people in the medical field. If you have no compassion, please don’t come near me with a sharp object.
This is so unique! Way to go eating more veggies, haha.
That post was hysterical. And I believe you mentioned a salad as well. TGIF!
I know! I was laughing the whole time.
Looks delicious! I’d eat it along side grilled salmon and call it dinner, or breakfast. :)
This is so pretty Jess! I woke up this morning feeling like I had nails scratching down my throat…. maybe this will be my cure!
Wonderful idea here… loving it!
Omg love this one!
So wait, what did the heels look like? I NEED TO KNOW.
And, um, this Fonzie (that joke’s not already old is it? I feel like it is and I just made it up 5 seconds ago) is giving me bedroom eyes and I may just need to slip into something more comf…
WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?
OMG this:
a) looks delicious
b) is beautifully photographed
c) is evidence that you have awesome lighting in your kitchen
d) reminds me how crappy the lighting is in mine
e) makes me realize how much I hate my kitchen
f) is what I’m making for lunch
:)
ok that story is super hilarious now, but i have to tell you – my roommate in college did a full 2 HOURS OF JUST CALF WORK one day at the gym and then couldn’t walk on anything but her tip toes for a full week. to make things better (or worse, depending on the point of view) she got a bladder infection on had to make several trips to the bathroom every hour. i felt so bad for her at the time, but it’s pretty hilarious to me now!
Oh I totes know the feeling! Whenever I do something that I need to apologise for husband wise (read throw a tantrum that SEEMED logical at the time) I basically have to start dieting the second I realise I need to apologise so that I can then say ‘ill cook whatever you want this evening’ – and basically be prepared to eat deep fried lamb for the rest of the weekend!
I actually did a blog post yesterday all about healthy veggies meals that my husband will eat. 100% BOY APPROVED stuff. Maybe I need to make this salad, see how it goes down and link back in a future post.
I very much love your blog xox
This is very shameful and Ive no idea if Im totally breaking mega blog rules by a) replying to my own comment b)commenting twice on the same post c) using my 2nd comment to shamelessly self promote BUT im doing it all anyways because I wrote a blog post today about alcohol and how (in some ways) its healthy and ALSO how alcohol calories dont count (sort of)!!! I thought, as a fellow margarita lover, u might possibly interested in feeling the boozy love! In any case I hope u have an amazing wknd FILLED with apple cider margaritas!!!
Hahaha…! You are too cute. No rule breaking… it’s fine. Thought I’m skipping over “the bad part” about alcohol in your post. :)
LOL @ “one time at band camp”!!!! That’s my go-to line when the kids start telling me a story. Thankfully, they don’t know the movie :)
This recipe looks amazing!
Thank you!! I think you are the only one who got that reference… everyone else just thinks I really was at band camp.
I have never even heard of panzanella salad (I guess I live under a rock) but yours looks so good, I think I need to change that. I love roasted veggies in a salad.
I almost spit out my coffee laughing about 143 times while reading this. Thanks for some humor on this dreary morning!
So does it make it panzanella salad if there are soft crouton-like bread pieces? I’m not sure either! Earlier this week I roasted sweet potatoes with bacon grease and a little maple syrup… You would die. I love the colors in this dish, definitely pinning it to make!
The photography in this post is absolutely stunning.
Sinus infections are the worst. I have one right now and I want to diiiiiiiiiiiie.
p.s. cool salad.
Another winner! Pinning this one!
This looks great!! Such an interesting dressing choice, too!
Omigod I cannot wait to make this. Adding to grocery list ASAP!!!
Quite possibly the funniest post you have ever written. I didn’t want it to end. I wanted to hear more about when you went to band camp, hehe!!
I’ve never heard of Panzanella Salads before either — but I’m on board with salads that include big hunks of bread.
About the Advil — I’m guessing you eventually swallowed it, but that would really freak me out too!
i’ve never had a panzanella salad either. but they always look so good online! i love the dressing too…. yum!
i actually had no idea what panzanella salad was until i caught an episode of rachel ray at the gym this week. your version looks fantastic! can’t wait to try :)
I don’t know about the salad – not a pom fan, but so glad I get your blog feed. I love your stories. :)
Thanks Lauren!
I have never heard of this…I plan to rectify that immediately. Delish!
Panzonella is just a salad with bread, tomatoes, and a few other veggies (e.g. cucumber, red onion) tossed in a simple vinaigrette.
This, though? Takes it to a whole new, awesome level.
The story about the pill lodged in your throat? Made me petrified.
Try living it! [I’m not a drama queen or anything…]
I’ve only had Panzanella once…and it looked nothing like this! The pomegranates are a nice touch too!
That salad just looks so pretty! BTW, I think I have seen the exact Rachel Ray episode you are talking about. I used to love Rachel Ray until, well, I started hating her.
This comment has me laughing hysterically while waiting to go into yoga. People are looking at me weird.
haha SUUREEE he didn’t say “pretty please” hehe
that salad looks so good!!! yum I love panzanella. there is this restaurant in cape cod that we go to every summer adn they have the BEST italian style panzanella salad with fresh mozz, homemade bread mmm
These pics are great! I know what you mean when you say “is it a panzanella cause it has bread?” I have no idea either, but I’ll believe you on this one. Very yummy looking
This has nothing to do with salad (which looks fab btw) and everything to do with Ryan Gosling and puppies. Enjoy. http://ryangoslingvspuppy.tumblr.com/
panzanella is one of my all time fav kinds of salads. And, I DID grow up in an Italian family and never had panzanella until I made it myself after seeing Giada make it on TV so you’re not that deprived ;)
Hilarious post :) Never heard of this salad though my boyfriend’s fam is italian. I’m so confused about beavis and butthead being on TV…. I went to watch, uhmm, something else last night at 10 on MTV, and b&b was on and I was horrified… then I proceeded to watch dirty soap for the first time.. then called my mom to tell her how ashamed I was and how it was good and she should watch. haha.
I’ve had panzanella salad on my to-make list for a while now, I need to get on that! Love the stuff. This recipes looks so seasonal and yummy :)
Any salad with big pieces of toasted bread in it sounds like a winner to me. I totally think its called panzanella just cause of the bread I guess that sounds fancier than salad with bread in it. Yum!
LOL I loved this post, I’m sitting at work literally LOL-ing!! My favourite part …..āwhy didnāt YOU ever make a panzanella salad? God, why canāt we just be Italian? There is so much good food Iāve been deprived of!ā. To be honest, my mom and I have this “heated discussion” ALL.THE.TIME. Ohhh… how i too long to be Italian and eat pasta and tiramisu for my entire life … oh my goodness, and the wine!!
This is soooo making it to my dinner table this week! Seriously tho… why are you so freakishly clever? ;)
What a gorgeous salad. It would go perfectly with a pomegranate lemondrop!
I just loved this post! I love your stories and now I need to try a panzanella salad.
I’ve done the three week single lady thing and I start to go nuts too. Love having the house to myself, but when I start to talk to flowers, I know it’s time for my hubby to come home!
You so inspire me! I am doing the pumpkin, the sweet potatoe and apples at the moment. I will add them in the salad but with another dressing. Great ideas!
Great post, Jessica! Three weeks is a long time to be “hubby free”- I would be going nuts, too! It’s nice for a few days or maybe a week, but more than that is too long! The panzanella looks delicious!
P.S. I finally broke down and bought two doughnut pans this morning. I know…not one but two! I am making me some (1 dozen) baked doughnuts this weekend while it’s snowing outside! :-)