Roasted Pumpkin Salad With Balsamic Vinaigrette

Why this recipe works

The best fall flavors

An irresistible blend of cozy flavors are married together in this salad with roasted pumpkin. You’ll find the best that fall has to offer in every bite:

Peppery arugula or watercress are balanced by the sweetness of the maple-spiced pumpkin crunch and the subtly sweet roasted pumpkin. Shaved fennel adds a delicate anise sweetness and refreshing bite. A pinch of cayenne in the pumpkin crunch adds an unexpected, but fun and fiery twist. Drizzling the tart and tangy balsamic vinaigrette over top balances each bite.

Made to impress your guests

Looking for an impressive salad to add to your vegan Thanksgiving menu or to serve throughout fall and winter? Make it this roasted pumpkin salad. It has everything you need to ‘wow’ your holiday guests: (1) A medley of exciting textures (crunchy, chewy, creamy – oh my!), (2) vibrant, yet cozy fall flavors, and (3) light and refreshing bites that leave you feeling satisfied. Plus, it’s gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, and of course dairy-free, so it’s very allergen-friendly!

Easy to prep ahead

This is a gourmet salad that takes a bit longer to prepare than your average salad, but you can save time by preparing certain elements in advance. The pumpkin wedges, sweet pumpkin crunch, and balsamic vinaigrette can all be prepped hours or days ahead of time! Once that’s done, all that’s left to do on the day is roast the pumpkin and chickpeas, shave the fennel, and assemble! Check out the Tips section for details on how to prep it ahead of time, as well as shortcuts you can take to save time.

Ingredient notes

Pumpkin

The star of this seasonal salad is, of course, roasted pumpkin wedges. Instead of going to the pumpkin patch, head to the farmer’s market or your local grocery store to get a sugar pie pumpkin. They’re much sweeter and flavorful than those large carving pumpkins. As the pumpkin wedges roast, their natural sugars caramelize, making every bite extra sweet, warm, and comforting. They even get a little crisp around the edges, giving every bite an even better texture. You can chop the pumpkin into cubes instead of wedges if you want, but I find that the texture isn’t as great (they stay soft and don’t get any crispness). PS: Did you know that pumpkin is super nutritious? It, along with other varieties of winter squash, is a fantastic source of beta carotene, a compound that turns into vitamin A in our bodies. All of that vitamin A can help improve your eyesight and strengthen your immune system. Substitute: This may be a pumpkin salad but that doesn’t mean you have to make it with pumpkin per se. I personally prefer kabocha squash, acorn squash, or butternut squash, as they have a bit more flavor than sugar pie pumpkins. Really, any winter squash will do.

Chickpeas (optional)

You can add roasted chickpeas to the salad for a tasty source of protein. They’re easy to roast on the same pan as the pumpkin and become super crunchy in the oven. Alternatively, leave them out if you don’t need the extra protein or you’re serving the salad as an appetizer or side dish.

Salad greens

A peppery leafy green adds some serious character to this salad. Arugula or watercress are two of my favorites! The benefits of making this salad with arugula and/or watercress go well beyond flavor. They’re both known as cruciferous vegetables, which contain anti-cancer compounds, heaps of fiber, and a long list of vitamins and minerals, like vitamins K and C. Looking for something with a milder flavor? Virtually any salad green will work well. Try mesclun or mixed spring greens, baby kale, chopped romaine, or a combination of different lettuces.

Fennel

We’re big fans of fennel at RPL! I always turn to it when I need a cooling and refreshing element in dishes, like in my Vegan Broccoli Salad and Instant Pot Fennel, Chickpea, and Brown Rice Stew. Its mild anise flavor pairs extremely well with the other components in this pumpkin salad. With a crisp and light bite, it brings a lovely contrast to the spicy greens and rustic, slightly sweet pumpkin. Substitute: If you don’t like fennel or can’t find it, use 3 medium carrots instead. Julienne or shred the carrots so they mimic the crunchy texture of the fennel.

Fresh herbs

I lean on fresh herbs a lot, and for good reason. If you’ve seen my YouTube video on how to become a salad person, you know that they’re one of my favorite additions to salads. Not only can they make a salad look beautiful, but their fresh flavor easily turns a good dish into a great one. Here, fresh mint and flat-leaf parsley add fresh flavor and dimension. Mint, in particular, adds a lovely refreshing sweetness that works very well with the fennel. However, you can omit the mint and only use parsley if that’s more convenient, and/or substitute them with the wispy fronds attached to your fennel bulb.

Balsamic vinaigrette

This blender balsamic vinaigrette is no ordinary vinaigrette. It’s creamy, zingy, tart, and has a subtle hint of umami from the garlic and aged balsamic vinegar. Bonus: it’s ready to use in less than 5 minutes. You can technically use any balsamic vinegar to make your homemade salad dressing, but the best flavor will come from aged balsamic vinegar. The Whole Foods aged balsamic (affiliate link) is a great grocery store option for its price:quality ratio.

Sweet pumpkin crunch

One taste and you’ll be hooked on this sweet pumpkin crunch. It’s made with a handful of fall’s key players: pepitas, maple syrup, and warm spices. As they cook together in a hot pan, the maple syrup caramelizes and turns the pepitas into little crunchy clusters with a warm, slightly spicy flavor. I highly recommend making a double batch so you can have the pumpkin crunch on hand throughout fall and winter! It’s delicious on everything. Sprinkle the candied pepita clusters over fall salads, grain bowls, yogurt and berries, and even ice cream! Or mix with roasted almonds and dried cherries or craisins for trail mix. Bonus: Despite its sweet flavor, the pumpkin crunch is surprisingly healthy. Pepitas are a natural anti-inflammatory and a fantastic source of iron, plant-based protein, vitamin K, and magnesium. They’ve even been known to support our reproductive health because of their high amounts of zinc.

Step-by-step instructions

After rinsing and drying, microwave the whole pumpkin so it’s easier to slice. When it’s a bit softer, slice off the stem and the bottom nub. Slice the pumpkin in half lengthwise using your sharpest knife. Scoop out the seeds and pulp with a spoon, then peel each half. Feel free to reserve the pumpkin seeds for roasting! Cut each half into thin wedges. Toss them with oil and maple syrup, then season with salt, pepper, and cinnamon. Place them on the prepared sheet pans. If you’re using the chickpeas, toss them with oil, salt, and pepper before scattering them in open spaces on the sheet pans. Roast the pumpkin and chickpeas for 15 minutes, then flip the pumpkin wedges. Continue roasting until the pumpkin is browned in spots and fork-tender. Meanwhile, make the Sweet Pumpkin Crunch. Add the olive oil and pepitas to a frying pan and toast over medium heat for a few minutes. Then add in the spice blend and maple syrup and stir very frequently for 2 minutes, until pepitas are well coated. Transfer to a parchment paper-lined plate to cool for 5 minutes until sticky and crunchy. Meanwhile, make the Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette. Simply add all the ingredients except for the olive oil to a food processor or small-capacity blender. Blend, then with the motor running, stream in the olive oil, and blend until creamy. To assemble the salad, add the greens and chopped herbs/fennel fronds to a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper, then drizzle some balsamic vinaigrette on top to coat the greens. Add the roasted pumpkin and chickpeas, handfuls of the pumpkin crunch, and fennel to the bowl. Toss to combine, then add the optional vegan feta and more balsamic vinaigrette on top. Enjoy!

Tips for making this recipe

Pick a small-ish pumpkin or squash

Make sure your pumpkin or squash is no bigger than 3 pounds. If it is, only roast 2 pounds of the peeled flesh. Roasting too much pumpkin/squash at the same time = overcrowding the pans. This causes the wedges to steam rather than roast, which means you’ll end up with soggy squash rather than golden, caramelized goodness.

Get creative!

Treat yourself to a trip to the farmer’s market to explore the many varieties of winter squash out there. There are so many to choose from, most of which are great in this salad! Instead of the usual sugar pie pumpkins and butternut squash, try any of these alternatives:

Delicata Buttercup Kabocha (red or green) Acorn Carnival Red Kuri

Dress it right before serving

Pour the dressing over the assembled salad right before serving. Any sooner and the creamy balsamic vinaigrette will wilt the salad greens.

Prep it ahead of time

Are you short on time? No problem! You can prep several of the components in advance to save on time and stress:

Peel and slice the pumpkin/winter squash up to 3 days in advance. Store the slices in a large container or ziplock bag in the fridge until it’s time to roast. You can make the pumpkin crunch well ahead of time. Store it in a jar in your pantry (it should last at least 2 weeks). Blend the balsamic vinaigrette up to 1 week ahead of time (but it should last for 2 weeks in your fridge).

Shortcut options

And to save even more time, turn to these shortcut ideas:

Skip the pumpkin wedges and make the salad with 2 pounds/900g of peeled, pre-cut butternut squash instead. It’s typically sold as cubed squash, so it’ll be slightly different but still works fine. Use a store-bought bag of pre-shredded carrots instead of shaving the fennel yourself. No time for a homemade salad dressing? Generously season the salad greens and herbs with salt, pepper, your best extra virgin olive oil, and aged balsamic vinegar (about a 2:1 ratio of oil to vinegar) instead.

If you love this Roasted Pumpkin Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette as much as we do, please rate and review the recipe with your feedback below! It’s always very much appreciated :) For nutrition info, click here.