Tis’ the season for all things pumpkin! I love sneaking this seasonal flavor into dishes this time of year. I am partnering with my friends at Little Leaf Farms to share a few of my favorite ways to incorporate pumpkin into your salads, from savory roasted pumpkin to salty pumpkin seeds, pumpkin goat cheese, even a pumpkin vinaigrette. I love that you can pick one of these pumpkin-flavored ingredients for a hint of pumpkin to your crisp, fresh Little Leaf Farms greens or combine them all together for a pumpkin-packed salad experience! Get all the ideas below:
Roasted Pumpkin. Chop up a small pumpkin into cubes, along with other seasonal root vegetables like butternut squash, carrots, and parsnips. Toss them lightly with olive oil and salt and pepper (some savory herbs like rosemary and thyme are a great addition too!) before roasting them on a sheet pan at 425 degrees for about 20 minutes. Let them cool a bit before adding them to your salad. The result is a sweet and savory cube of roasted goodness – they’re hearty and filling and healthy! Look for varieties labeled “pie pumpkins” or “sugar pumpkins” for this kind of dish!
Pumpkin Seeds. I need a crunch in my salad, which is why I love Little Leaf Farms greens (the crispiest!) and adding in things like croutons, nuts, and seeds. Roasted pumpkin seeds, with their salty flavor and great texture, are a nice seasonal topping to fold into your pumpkin-themed salad. You can roast them yourself or find different flavored varieties that are pre-roasted and sold in bags at the grocery store.
Pumpkin Goat Cheese. Goat cheese in a salad is one of my favorite flavor combinations; the tanginess of the cheese is such a great compliment to the fresh, crisp Little Leaf Farms lettuce. To give it a fall-flavor boost, add a spoonful of pumpkin puree to softened goat cheese and blend it together with a fork for the easiest pumpkin goat cheese!
Pumpkin Dressing. A quick pumpkin salad dressing is one my favorite hacks for fall entertaining. Just stir a spoonful of pumpkin puree into your favorite vinaigrette for a sweet, fall-flavored twist to your salad dressing. The sweet, tangy vinaigrette will be a nice balance to crunchy greens, salty pumpkin seeds, and savory roasted veggies.
Please note: This post was created in partnership with Little Leaf Farms. All opinions, images and content are my own. Thank you for supporting brands that support this site.
I like this idea of adding pumpkin to vinaigrette!