Autumn Crunch Luncheon—Lunch for 4

The Autumn Crunch Luncheon is a French-inspired lunch dish perfect for fall. It features a medley of seasonal vegetables and fruits, combined in a hearty, warming meal. Its unique blend of flavors and textures captures the essence of autumn, offering a delightful culinary experience.

Meal Type

Lunch

Cuisine

French

Servings

4

Food Stars

Health

Variations

Diets

Variations

You Need This Stuff

  • 2 cups butternut squash, cubed
  • 1 cup brussels sprouts, halved
  • 2 medium apples, cored and chopped
  • 1 large red onion, sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 4 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 8 slices of crusty French bread, toasted
  • 1 cup gruyere cheese, grated
  • 2 cups mixed salad greens

Do This With That Stuff

  1. ‘Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C)
  2. Use your vegetable peeler to peel the butternut squash, then use your chef’s knife and cutting board to cube it
  3. Cut the brussels sprouts in half on your cutting board with your chef’s knife
  4. Core and chop the apples using your cutting board and chef’s knife
  5. Slice the red onion and mince the garlic using your cutting board and chef’s knife
  6. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cubed butternut squash, halved brussels sprouts, chopped apples, sliced red onion, minced garlic, olive oil, salt, black pepper, and fresh thyme sprigs Toss until all ingredients are well coated in oil and seasonings
  7. Spread this mixture evenly onto a baking sheet
  8. Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven Roast for about 25-30 minutes or until vegetables are tender and lightly browned Use oven mitts to remove from oven when done
  9. While vegetables are roasting, prepare the dressing: In a small mixing bowl whisk together Dijon mustard, honey, apple cider vinegar until well combined
  10. Toast slices of French bread using a large skillet over medium heat until they are golden brown on both sides Remove from heat once toasted
  11. Grate gruyere cheese using a cheese grater into a medium saucepan Melt over low heat until it becomes creamy and smooth Stir occasionally to prevent burning or sticking to the pan
  12. Spread each toasted French bread slice with melted gruyere cheese using a bread knife Arrange these slices on serving platter
  13. When vegetables are done roasting, toss them in prepared dressing until well coated
  14. Top each cheesy toast slice with mixed salad greens followed by dressed roasted vegetables
  15. Serve immediately while warm’

Obvious and Not So Obvious Variations and Pairings

☕ Bitter
  • Increase the brussels sprouts to 2 cups
  • Add 1/2 cup of radicchio, chopped
  • Increase the Dijon mustard to 3 tbsp
  • Add 1/4 cup of arugula to the mixed salad greens
  • Replace honey with 2 tbsp of grapefruit juice
🧂 Salty
  • Increase the salt to 2 tsp
  • Add 1/2 cup of capers
  • Add 1/2 cup of chopped olives
  • Replace gruyere cheese with feta cheese
  • Add 1 tbsp soy sauce to the dressing
🍋 Sour
  • Increase apple cider vinegar to 1/2 cup
  • Add 2 tbsp of lemon juice to the dressing
  • Replace Dijon mustard with 3 tbsp of whole grain mustard, which has a more tart flavor
  • Add 1/4 cup of pickled capers to the roasted vegetables mix
  • Replace gruyere cheese with goat cheese, which has a tangier flavor
🌶️ Spicy
  • ‘Add 1 tsp of cayenne pepper
  • Increase black pepper to 1 tsp
  • Add 2 chopped jalapeno peppers
  • Include 1 tbsp of hot sauce in the dressing
  • Add 1/2 tsp of crushed red pepper flakes to the gruyere cheese’
🍬 Sweet
  • ‘Increase the honey to 2 tbsp
  • Add 1/4 cup of maple syrup to the dressing
  • Add 1/2 cup of dried cranberries to the roasted vegetables
  • Replace red onion with sweet onion
  • Add a sprinkle of cinnamon to the butternut squash before roasting’
🍄 Umami
  • ‘Add 1 tbsp of soy sauce to the dressing
  • Add 1/2 cup of chopped mushrooms to the vegetable mixture
  • Replace gruyere cheese with 1 cup of aged Parmesan cheese
  • Add 1 tsp of fish sauce to the dressing’
🍸 Alcoholic
  • ‘Chardonnay: The buttery notes of this wine complement the butternut squash and gruyere cheese, while its acidity balances the sweetness of the apples
  • Beaujolais: This light-bodied red wine with fruity notes pairs well with the earthiness of brussels sprouts and enhances the flavors of the Dijon mustard and honey dressing
  • Calvados: This apple brandy from Normandy, France, echoes the apple in the dish and adds a warming autumnal note.’
🥤 Non Alcoholic
  • ‘Sparkling Apple Cider: The effervescence and apple flavor of this drink will complement the apples in the dish and the apple cider vinegar in the dressing
  • French Lemonade: The acidity and sweetness of French lemonade will balance the rich flavors of gruyere cheese and roasted vegetables
  • Herbal Tea with Honey: The warmth and subtle sweetness of herbal tea with honey will pair well with the earthy flavors of butternut squash, brussels sprouts, and thyme’
IMPORTANT NOTE: Artificial Intelligence created this—this means the following may or may not be correct or accurate. If following a specific diet is critical to your health and well-being due to ailments or health conditions, please consult your doctor before trying any of these variations.

🥓 Keto
  • Remove 2 medium apples
  • Remove 1 tbsp honey
  • Remove 8 slices of crusty French bread
  • Replace 1 cup gruyere cheese with 1 cup cream cheese
  • Add 1/2 cup of chopped pecans
🍆 Mediterranean
  • Replace butternut squash with 2 cups of eggplant, cubed
  • Replace brussels sprouts with 1 cup of zucchini, halved
  • Replace apples with 2 medium tomatoes, cored and chopped
  • Add 1/2 cup of kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
  • Replace Dijon mustard with 2 tbsp of tahini
  • Replace honey with 1 tbsp of pomegranate molasses
  • Replace apple cider vinegar with 1/4 cup of red wine vinegar
  • Replace French bread with 8 slices of pita bread, toasted
  • Replace gruyere cheese with 1 cup of feta cheese, crumbled
  • Add 1 tbsp of za’atar spice mix to the olive oil mixture for roasting vegetables.
🥑 Paleo
  • Remove 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • Remove 1 tbsp honey
  • Remove 8 slices of crusty French bread
  • Remove 1 cup gruyere cheese
  • Add 2 tbsp of stone ground mustard
  • Add 1 tbsp of raw honey
  • Add 4 cups of mixed salad greens
🐟 Pescatarian
  • Add 1 cup of cooked, flaked salmon
  • Add 1/2 cup of cooked, peeled shrimp
🌱 Vegan
  • ‘Replace honey with 1 tbsp agave nectar
  • Replace gruyere cheese with 1 cup vegan cheese, grated’
🥦 Vegetarian
  • The recipe provided is already vegetarian friendly as it does not contain any meat, poultry, fish, or seafood. No changes are needed to make it suitable for a vegetarian diet.
🥩 Whole30
  • Remove Dijon mustard
  • Remove honey
  • Remove crusty French bread
  • Remove gruyere cheese
  • Replace olive oil with extra virgin olive oil
IMPORTANT NOTE: Artificial Intelligence created this—this means the following may or may not be correct or accurate. If following a specific diet is critical to your health and well-being due to ailments or health conditions, please consult your doctor before trying any of these variations.

🧠 Brain Health
  • ‘Replace olive oil with 3 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
  • Add 1/4 cup of chopped walnuts
  • Replace gruyere cheese with 1 cup of feta cheese
  • Add 1 tbsp of ground flaxseeds
  • Add 1/2 cup of blueberries to the mixed salad greens’
🌾 Celiac Disease
  • Replace the crusty French bread with gluten-free bread
  • Ensure the Dijon mustard is a gluten-free variety
💩 Crohns Disease
  • ‘Remove the brussels sprouts
  • Decrease the garlic to 2 cloves
  • Remove the apple cider vinegar
  • Replace the gruyere cheese with lactose-free cheese
  • Replace the crusty French bread with gluten-free bread’
🩸 Diabetes
  • Remove honey
  • Replace crusty French bread with whole grain bread
  • Decrease olive oil to 2 tbsp
  • Replace gruyere cheese with low-fat cheese
🍞 Gluten Intolerance
  • Replace the crusty French bread with 8 slices of gluten-free bread
  • Ensure the Dijon mustard is a gluten-free variety
🫀 Heart Disease
  • ‘Replace olive oil with 2 tbsp of avocado oil
  • Decrease salt to 1/2 tsp
  • Replace gruyere cheese with 3/4 cup of low-fat mozzarella cheese
  • Add 1 tbsp of flaxseeds’
❤️ Heart Health
  • ‘Replace olive oil with 2 tbsp of avocado oil
  • Decrease salt to 1/2 tsp
  • Replace gruyere cheese with 1 cup of low-fat mozzarella cheese
  • Add 1/4 cup of flaxseeds’
🧂 High Blood Pressure
  • ‘Remove salt
  • Replace olive oil with 2 tbsp of avocado oil
  • Replace Dijon mustard with 1 tbsp of low-sodium Dijon mustard
  • Replace gruyere cheese with 1 cup of low-sodium mozzarella cheese’
🍔 High Cholesterol
  • ‘Replace 3 tbsp olive oil with 1.5 tbsp olive oil and 1.5 tbsp avocado oil
  • Replace 1 cup gruyere cheese with 1/2 cup gruyere cheese and add 1/2 cup low-fat mozzarella cheese
  • Add 2 tbsp flaxseeds to the mixed salad greens
  • Replace crusty French bread with whole grain bread’
🦠 Immune System
  • Add 1/2 cup of chopped bell peppers
  • Add 1/2 cup of chopped broccoli
  • Add 1 tbsp of turmeric
  • Replace olive oil with 3 tbsp of coconut oil
  • Replace gruyere cheese with 1 cup of feta cheese
  • Add 2 tbsp of chopped ginger
  • Add 2 cloves of minced garlic
🚽 Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • Remove garlic
  • Replace onions with green part of spring onions
  • Replace apples with peeled zucchini
  • Remove brussels sprouts
  • Replace butternut squash with sweet potatoes
  • Decrease olive oil to 2 tbsp
  • Replace Dijon mustard with 1 tbsp of mustard powder
  • Remove honey
  • Replace crusty French bread with gluten-free bread
  • Replace gruyere cheese with lactose-free cheese
💧 Kidney Disease
  • ‘Remove salt
  • Decrease olive oil to 1 tbsp
  • Remove gruyere cheese
  • Replace Dijon mustard with low-sodium mustard
  • Replace crusty French bread with low-sodium whole wheat bread
  • Add 1 cup of chopped red bell peppers’
🐄 Lactose Intolerance
  • ‘Remove gruyere cheese
  • Add 1 cup of lactose-free cheese, grated’
🍺 Liver Disease
  • ‘Remove gruyere cheese
  • Decrease olive oil to 1 tbsp
  • Remove salt
  • Replace Dijon mustard with low-sodium mustard
  • Replace crusty French bread with whole grain bread’
🤰 Pregnancy
  • Replace honey with 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • Add 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts
  • Add 1/2 cup of chopped almonds
  • Replace gruyere cheese with 1 cup mozzarella cheese

Beti’s Reflections

 As an adventurous food blogger, I’m always on the hunt for unique and flavorful dishes. On a recent trip to France, I stumbled upon a quaint bistro in the heart of Paris where I discovered the Autumn Crunch Luncheon Recipe. This French Cuisine Recipe was so delightful and perfectly captured the essence of fall that I knew I had to share it with my readers.

The Autumn Crunch Luncheon is a hearty meal serving four people, perfect for those crisp autumn afternoons. It’s a vegetarian dish, making it ideal for those following a plant-based diet or anyone looking to incorporate more vegetables into their meals. However, if you have any allergies or dietary restrictions, please ensure to check all ingredients before preparing this Butternut Squash and Brussels Sprouts Dish.

This recipe features an array of fresh ingredients that each play a crucial role in creating its unique flavor profile. The butternut squash brings a sweet and nutty flavor while brussels sprouts add a delightful crunch. Apples provide a tart freshness that balances out the earthy flavors of red onion and garlic. Olive oil, salt, black pepper, and fresh thyme sprigs enhance these natural flavors while Dijon mustard, honey, and apple cider vinegar create an irresistible dressing that ties everything together. The dish is served on toasted French bread topped with melted gruyere cheese for added richness and accompanied by mixed salad greens for some lightness.

To prepare this Roasted Vegetable Salad Recipe, start by preheating your oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Peel and cube your butternut squash then halve your brussels sprouts – these steps are key in ensuring even cooking later on. Core and chop your apples then slice your red onion and mince your garlic – these will add layers of flavor to your dish. Toss all these ingredients together with olive oil, salt, black pepper, and fresh thyme sprigs before spreading them evenly onto a baking sheet for roasting until tender and lightly browned.

While the vegetables are roasting away in the oven, whisk together Dijon mustard, honey, apple cider vinegar for your dressing – this will give your roasted vegetables an extra punch of flavor! Toast slices of French bread until golden brown then spread each slice with creamy melted gruyere cheese – this Gruyere Cheese Toast Recipe is what makes this dish truly special! Once everything is ready, assemble by topping each cheesy toast slice with mixed salad greens followed by dressed roasted vegetables.

And voila! Your Autumn Crunch Luncheon is ready to be savored! This French-inspired dish offers not only an explosion of flavors but also an array of textures that will leave you craving more! Whether you’re looking for Healthy Fall Lunch Recipes or simply want to try something new from Vegetarian French Cuisine Recipes collection – this recipe is definitely worth trying! So why wait? Get into your kitchen now and let’s make some Autumn Crunch Luncheon!

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