As autumn sets in, it’s the ideal season to savor meals that highlight the sweetness of roasted vegetables, the earthiness of greens, and the warmth of comforting desserts. A delightful menu to try features a robust salad made with squash and cavolo nero, accompanied by a luxurious dark chocolate mousse, aromatic poached quince, and a crunchy brown-butter crumb.
The Roast Squash and Cavolo Nero Salad with Black Olive Tapenade is a wholesome dish that serves 4–6 people. It requires about 15 minutes of preparation and 40 minutes of cooking. For the salad, you’ll need one medium butternut squash, seasoned with olive oil, chili flakes, salt, and pepper, and roasted at 425°F until golden and tender. While the squash roasts, cavolo nero is blanched and tossed with lemon juice and olive oil. The tapenade comes together by finely chopping black olives, garlic, capers, and parsley, then mixing with olive oil and red-wine vinegar. The salad is assembled by layering the cavolo nero with warm squash and topping it with the tapenade and toasted pumpkin seeds or walnuts. Additional richness can be added with feta, shaved pecorino, or thick yogurt.
For dessert, the Dark Chocolate Mousse is complemented by Poached Quince and a Brown Butter Crumb. Serving six, this dessert requires 10 minutes of prep, 2 hours of cooking, and at least 4 hours of chilling time. The mousse is made by melting dark chocolate and folding it with whipped cream and beaten egg whites. It is then chilled for several hours. The quince is poached in a mixture of honey, apple juice, cider vinegar, and spices until tender. Once cooled, the quince is diced into small pieces. The crumb is prepared by baking a mixture of brown butter, milk powder, flour, sugar, and salt until golden.
To serve the dessert, a generous spoonful of the chilled chocolate mousse is placed on each plate, accompanied by the diced poached quince and sprinkled with the brown-butter milk crumbs. A dollop of crème fraîche completes this indulgent treat, ready to be served immediately.
This autumn-inspired menu, with its combination of hearty, sweet, and rich flavors, offers a comforting dining experience that celebrates the season’s best ingredients.