The best-ever Roasted Veggie Salad (or fall panzanella salad) is filled with homemade Italian croutons, roasted squash, sweet potatoes, and red onions. It's drizzled with an irresistible lemon-honey vinaigrette.
Course Dinner, Main Course, Salad, Vegetarian
Cuisine American
Keyword fall panzanella salad, roasted veggie salad
ROASTED VEGGIES: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Prep all the veggies: peel sweet potatoes and squash; cut into a small dice. Remove outer peel and thinly slice the red onion. Add all the prepped veggies to a large baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and Italian seasoning (I use ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper). Toss to combine. Bake for 25-35 minutes, until golden and crisp-tender. Flip once, halfway through the baking time. Remove veggies from oven, let cool slightly and then adjust salt and pepper as needed. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
CROUTONS: While the veggies are cooking, tear the bread into bite-sized pieces. Transfer bread to a bowl and add the olive oil, butter, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper (I use ½ teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper). Using your hands, gently toss the croutons until well coated. Transfer to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes (at 350 degrees F) until they are golden brown. Remove and let cool slightly .
DRESSING: Combine all the ingredients in a glass jar. Season to taste with salt and pepper (I use½ teaspoon of each). Shake to combine and refrigerate until ready to serve. (You may not use all the dressing; add to personal preference. Leftover dressing lasts up to 5 days in the fridge.)
ASSEMBLY: Add spinach to a large bowl. Toss in the roasted veggies and croutons. Toss with vinaigrette and enjoy immediately. Do not dress more salad than you'll use; this salad doesn't sit well with dressing and is best enjoyed right after dressed. To use leftovers, dress separately and store all ingredients separately.
Video
Notes
Balsamic Dressing:
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 clove of garlic, minced
1/4 cup olive oil
salt and pepper, to taste
For the vinaigrette, add all the ingredients together in a glass jar. Add salt and pepper to taste; I use 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, but add to your preference. Shake the dressing well right before pouring over the salad.