Bountiful slices of orange roasted squash and garnet dried figs are the rock stars of this dish, contrasting against a bed of bright winter greens. Dotted on top is the honey-pecan-crusted goat cheese in golden brown mounds, glistening with a cherry balsamic reduction. A sprinkle of fresh pomegranate arils adds a festive finishing touch.

Winter Squash & Fig Fusion Salad

Name: Winter Squash & Fig Fusion Salad
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 80 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Fusion
Ingredients: 1 medium butternut squash halved and seeded; 6 dried figs halved; 1/2 cup pomegranate arils; 4 oz soft goat cheese; 1/2 cup pecans ground; 2 tbsp honey; 2 cups winter greens; 3 tbsp olive oil; to taste salt and pepper; 1 cup balsamic vinegar; 1/2 cup dried cherries

Festive, gluten-free salad with a fusion twist.

Category Main Course

Prep 20 minutes

Cook 60 minutes

Style Fusion

Technique Roasting

Diet Friendly Gluten-Free

Daily recipe · December 24, 2025

A little about this dish

This dish is a stunning fusion of flavors and cultures, featuring a festive Gluten-Free Roasted Squash and Fig Salad with a Cherry Balsamic Reduction and Honey-Pecan-Crusted Goat Cheese. The key ingredients of the dish are fresh squash, dried figs, honey, pecans and soft goat cheese - all beautifully complementing each other.

Ingredients (for 2)

Medium butternut squash — 1 — halved and seeded
Dried figs — 6 — halved
Pomegranate arils — 1/2 cup
Soft goat cheese — 4 oz
Pecans — 1/2 cup — ground
Honey — 2 tbsp
Winter greens — 2 cups
Olive oil — 3 tbsp
Salt and pepper — to taste
Balsamic vinegar — 1 cup
Dried cherries — 1/2 cup

Preparation

Step 1 — 🔥🥄🥣

Preheat oven to 400°F. Drizzle olive oil on the butternut squash, sprinkle with salt and pepper, then roast for about 50 minutes until tender.
Step 2 — 🍒🍵🔥

While the squash is roasting, begin to prepare the cherry balsamic reduction. Simmer the balsamic vinegar and dried cherries over low heat until it reduces to a thick syrup.
Step 3 — 🧀🍯🥜

Roll the goat cheese to form small balls. Dip these balls in honey before rolling them in ground pecans. Place the coated cheese balls onto a baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes until golden.
Step 4 — 🔪🥣🍽️

After the squash has been roasted and is tender, slice it into wedge shaped pieces.
Step 5 — 🍽️🥗🍛

Arrange winter greens on two plates. Top the greens with the squash wedges and figs. Scatter the baked goat cheese balls and sprinkle pomegranate arils over top.
Step 6 — 🍶🍽️🎉

Drizzle the cherry balsamic reduction over each plate and serve immediately for the best taste.

A final fox tip

This dish is not only a feast for the eyes but also packed with superfoods, providing a healthy and tasty option for the holiday season. You can substitute the squash with sweet potatoes and the figs with prunes if desired. The recipe can also include the kids, who will have fun shaping and rolling the goat cheese balls.