My #1 favorite healthy & hearty fall salad with butternut squash, tart cherries and a savory apple cider sage dressing. Gluten free.
My mom loves to clip articles. Newspaper clippings, magazine clippings, stories, recipes – sometimes they come in the mail, sometimes she saves them up for a visit. A couple of years ago she brought me a recipe for a couscous salad clipped from Edible Michiana that was similar to this one. We made it, loved it… then later I lost it. But I could never get this sweet & savory flavor combo out of my mind so I’ve been making versions of it ever since.
The original recipe used couscous but I used quinoa here because it’s the grain I usually have on hand. I tossed it with roasted butternut squash, feta cheese and dried tart cherries for a sweet & tangy pop of flavor. They perfectly balance the warm, savory flavors that are going on here.
While the butternut squash is roasting in the oven, make your dressing. I slightly warm some olive oil and mix in apple cider vinegar, sage, honey and cinnamon. I promise – once you toss the sage in, your kitchen will instantly smell like fall… it’s just so warm and cozy.
recipe inspired by this recipe from Edible Michiana.
I once tried to make my own cherry vodka, my brother loved it…me, not so much. My usual cherry recipe is cherries with some good cheese, but now that I think about it brie baked with cherries would probably be tasty.
Tart cherries soaked in port, finish in pan with seared duck with a sprinkle of fresh thyme.
Dried tart cherry chocolate chunk cookies: tart chewy cherries are a perfect foil for decadent chocolate chunks, all enrobed in rich chocolate cookie dough.
tart cherry ice cream! maybe with some hot fudge on top.
I could really go for a tart cherry homemade pop tarts with brown butter frosting. Yum!
This looks fantastic! I’ve been on the hunt for good butternut squash recipes this month! I recently used dried tart cherries in a Toasted Coconut Quinoa salad recipe http://www.wholebiteblog.com/new-blog/2014/9/12/mqux5ucp6p3dzpx2fhvn45haj19xcj
Tart cherries go really well with breakfast quinoa — quinoa cooked in (coconut) milk, topped with nuts and cherries!
Whole grain cherry pecan muffins sound great for a breakfast treat! Drizzled with some nut butter and maybe extra fresh ones on the side!
When tart cherries are in season they are such a treat. I think it’s my favorite time of all summer. In my opinion, the best way is to eat tart cherries raw. But if I had a choice to cook something with this main ingredient, tart cherry clafoutis would be my pick.
My favorite way to use tart cherries is to cook them with rice, saffron, and pistachios. So good!
This has inspired me! I am dreaming up a salad of shredded Brussels sprouts, chopped kale, tart cherries, toasted slivered almonds, a nutty super age cheese crumbled on top or Comte, and tossed in a tahini, maple and tart cherry juice dressing.
a creamy vanilla and tart cherry ice cream
I love making a big batch of baked oatmeal and freezing individual portions for a fast filling breakfast. I think a tart cherry version would be delicious!
Wow! There are some great idea combos and flavors here! I so enjoy reading everyone’s comments. As a child, when my mom would make cherry pie, I thought it was gross. I thought cherries were gross. It might have been a texture thing, who knows?! I didn’t like cooked cherries, go figure.. But as an adult, tart cherries are now one of my favorites! Warm tart cherry lattice tarts with creme fraiche gelato or even a simple brown sugar and oats cherry crisp is one of my favorite baked early autumn delights! I love the gooeyness of the baked tart cherries and their bust of tart juiciness as they pop on my palette! I also think a tart cherry, acai, blueberry, honey, cinnamon and greek yogurt smoothie would be delicious as well! Or mascerated tart cherry with earl grey iced tea. Mmm, so many possibilities! Thanks for the inspiration Jeanine! I will be baking a special tart cherry treat for company this weekend!
I haven’t tried tart cherries yet, but I think they would be great in muffins!
Reduce tart cherries with sugar and water to make a tart cherry syrup. Combine with good bourbon, a splash of soda and lots of ice. Top it off with a bourbon macerated tart cherry for garnish.
Tart cherry and almond oatmeal – a match made in heaven!
I would love to make a tart cherry mint tea for a drink. I was thinking about tart cherries and chocolate in the form of a brownie!
I love quinoa, but I’m always short on ideas for cooking it. I’m looking forward to trying this one. (Also, my mom totally clips recipes for me too!)
I think a chocolate chia seed pudding with tart cherries sounds like a yummy recipe idea.
I’ve seen some great-looking/sounding recipes for bready-things: a cheese and tart cherry pastry (like a big Danish), and a rosemary and tart cherry focaccia. yum!