“This salad fills your house with the most intoxicating pumpkin spice and maple aroma—who needs to burn a pumpkin spice candle when you have this gorgeous recipe?” says Angela Liddon, author of 2021 Shortlisted Cookbook, Oh She Glows For Dinner. “The best part? You get three recipes out of one here. In addition to making this complete salad as a hearty starter or main, both the roasted maple and pumpkin spice sweet potatoes and marinated kale salad make easy side dishes on their own. You’ll want to make extra, because your neighbors are sure to knock on your door, asking where that blissful scent is coming from!”
Author Angela Liddon, author of Oh She Glows For Dinner
Ingredients
For the Roasted Sweet Potato and Chickpeas
3medium sweet potatoes760 g total
1(14-ounce/398 mL) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed*
2tablespoonsextra-virgin olive oil
2tablespoonspure maple syrup
2teaspoonspumpkin pie spiceplus more for serving
½teaspoonfine sea saltplus more for serving
For the Marinated Kale Salad
1(265 g) medium bunch curly kalestemmed and chopped (6 cups)
1(4 g) medium garlic clovefinely grated on a Microplane
1tablespoonextra-virgin olive oil
1teaspoonpure maple syrupor to taste
¼teaspoonfine sea salt
3tablespoonsfresh lemon juice
1tablespoonrunny tahini**
½cup(80 g) roasted salted pepitas, for garnish
Instructions
Prepare the Roasted Sweet Potato and Chickpeas: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line an extra-large (15 by 21-inch/38 by 53 cm) baking sheet (or two large baking sheets) with parchment paper.
Peel the sweet potatoes and chop them into small 1-inch (2.5 cm) cubes (you should have about 5½ cups). Place the drained chickpeas and sweet potato on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with the oil and toss until thoroughly coated. Drizzle on 1 tablespoon of the maple syrup and toss again to coat. Spread the sweet potatoes and chickpeas into a single layer on the pan. Sprinkle the pumpkin pie spice and salt all over the sweet potatoes and chickpeas.
Roast, uncovered, for 32 to 38 minutes (I roast for 36 minutes), until the sweet potatoes are fork-tender and golden brown on the bottom and the chickpeas are a bit shriveled. I don’t flip them or rotate the pan during baking.
Meanwhile, prepare the Marinated Kale Salad: Place the kale in a very large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together the garlic, oil, maple syrup, salt, lemon juice, and tahini until smooth. Pour the dressing over the kale and massage it into the leaves with your hands until fully coated. Let the kale marinate in the dressing while the sweet potatoes and chickpeas roast.
When the chickpeas and sweet potatoes are finished roasting, remove the baking sheet from the oven and drizzle the remaining 1 tablespoon maple syrup over them. With a spoon, gently toss to coat. Taste and season with more pumpkin pie spice and salt, if desired (I always do!).
Portion the kale into bowls, top with the warm roasted sweet potatoes and chickpeas, and garnish with the roasted pepitas. Serve warm.
STORAGE
Store leftover salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in an oiled skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes, until warmed through. Season with a little extra pumpkin pie spice and pure maple syrup, if desired, to revive the flavors.