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Home » Dinner Salads

Exotic Pumpkin Salad with Spinach

Made by Anastasia Papapetros - Serves 4 Filed Under: Best Winter Salads, Dinner Salads, Featured, Make Ahead Salads, Salad Index, Salad Recipes By Ingredient, Salads by Diet, Salads by Season, Salads for Autumn, Salads Recipes By Type, Vegetable Salad

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Try our hearty Pumpkin Salad it will leave you feeling nourished and energized for hours. We roast tender pumpkin cubes, generously coating them with a blend of exquisite Moroccan spices. The result? A harmonious explosion of flavours. Enjoy!

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Pumpkin salad on a grey patterned shallow bowl with baby spinach in top left hand corner and orange linen napkin at the bottom.

This Pumpkin Salad with Spinach and Moroccan Spices calls for one of my most favourite spice blends - Ras el Hanout which translates to "top of the shop". It originated in the Meghribi villages of North Africa, and it is a complex and distinctive medley of fragrant spices. I have included my version of Ras El Hanout in case you are unable to find it.

For a sweeter salad, try our Sweet Potato Cranberry Salad, or if you are looking for something extraordinary, you simply must try our Moroccan Salad with Roasted Garbanzo Beans (Chickpeas)

In This Post:
 [hide]
  1. Ingredients & Substitutions
  2. How to Prepare Butternut Pumpkin for Roasting
  3. How to Make This Salad
  4.  Serving Suggestions 🍽
  5. Tips & Questions
  6. More of Our Spice Blend Recipes
  7. Recipe Card

Ingredients & Substitutions

  • Butternut Pumpkin (Squash) - I chose butternut pumpkin because it is so much easier to cut and hey I just don't have the muscles to tackle the hardier varieties! But if you have done all your workouts then you can use your favourite pumpkin variety (such as kabocha or Kent pumpkin) or even sweet potatoes are great in this salad.
  • Baby Spinach - is used as a base in this salad; feel free to substitute it with any hearty greens such as kale, silverbeet or even rocket/arugula.
  • Sesame & Pumpkin Seeds - for crunch and nutty flavour, or use any of your favourite seed varieties or even some nuts such as pecans, almonds or walnuts.
  • Ras el Hanout Vinaigrette - this is an aromatic vinaigrette with a slightly Asian note to it, this is the best thing about this salad, but if you are in a hurry, you can replace it with a balsamic glaze.
Labelled ingredients needed to make pumpkin salad.
Consider Adding - some crumbled feta or goat cheese for a delightful touch of salty creaminess, or dried cranberries for a touch of natural sweetness. They will add  a luxurious decadence to this salad.

How to Prepare Butternut Pumpkin for Roasting

First of all, wash the pumpkin to remove any dirt and grime then pat dry.

A butternut pumpkin is being washed under water in a kitchen sink.

Hold it carefully to prevent it from rolling while you cut off the ends with a sharp chef’s knife.

Hands trimming a butternut pumpkin on a wooden board with a knife.

Cut it in half horizontally through the middle to separate the bulbous bottom of the pumpkin from the slender neck.

A butternut pumpkin being sliced in half on a wooden board.

Stand up each half.

Hands holding two butternut pumpkin halves on a wooden board.

Use a heavy-duty Y-shaped vegetable peeler or a sharp vegetable knife to remove the skin until you come to the yellow flesh. 

Hands peeling two butternut pumpkin halves with a peeler on a wooden board.

Then cut the two ends in half again.

Hands cutting peeled butternut pumpkin halves on a wooden board with a knife.

The bulbous end of the pumpkin is where the seeds are; you will need to scoop them out using a spoon (you may keep them for roasting). 

Hands scooping out pumpkin seeds from a butternut pumpkin with a spoon on a wooden board.

Cut according to your recipe. For this pumpkin salad, you will need to cut it into medium cubes.

Knife dicing pumpkin on wooden board

How to Make This Salad

Step 1 - Roast the Pumpkin

Place your diced pumpkin on your tray, add the oils and Ras el Hanout spice, season with salt and pepper, and then mix until the pumpkin is well coated with the oils and spices.

Diced pumpkin on a tray with oil and seasonings.

Spread pumpkin out evenly on your prepared baking tray, making sure the pieces don't touch so that they brown evenly; add two tablespoons of water.

💡Top Tip - Do not overcrowd the pumpkin in your roasting pan, as this stops it from turning a nice golden brown colour and forming those gorgeous crusty edges.

For even heat distribution place your roasting tray in the middle rack of your oven and roast until soft and golden brown (approximately 30-40 minutes).

Roasted diced pumpkin on a tray.

Step 2 - Roast the Seeds

In the meantime, place your sesame seeds on a lined baking tray and your pepitas on another and roast in your hot oven until golden brown - approximately 10 minutes.

If you are using the scooped-out pumpkin seeds, wash them well under cold running water to remove any pumpkin strands, pat them dry and place them alongside the pepita seeds to roast.

A close-up of roasted pepita or pumpkin seeds on a lined baking tray.
Toasted sesame seeds on a lined baking tray.

Step 3 - Shake-up The Dressing

Place all the dressing ingredients in a glass jar, season with sea salt and cracked black pepper.

A side view of Ras el hanout dressing ingredients in a glass jar.

Shake-up the dressing until emulsified, well combined.

Taste the dressing and make adjustments based on the strength of the soy sauce and sesame oil you use. 

Keep in mind that soy sauce can sometimes be salty and sesame oil may be overpowering, so adjust accordingly.

Shaken ras el hanout dressing in a glass jar.

Step 4 - Wash Your Spinach

Wash your baby spinach under cold running water, remove any damaged or wilted leaves.

Baby spinach leaves in a colander being washed in a kitchen sink.

Then either pat dry with a towel or spin in a salad spinner to remove excess water.

💡Top Tip - Using a salad spinner makes for a tastier salad, as the dressing is not diluted by the water in the leaves. 
Baby spinach leaves being dried in a salad spinner.
RECIPE NOTE 📝: If you leave out the spinach, it makes a great vegetable side dish for roast dinners.

Step 4 - Assemble Your Roast Pumpkin Salad

Add your cooled pumpkin to your baby spinach, and add most of the pepitas and sesame seeds (reserving a few to add on top as a garnish).

Pour your dressing over your salad, and toss until well combined.

Taste and adjust seasonings according to your liking.

Prepared roast pumpkin salad ingredients in a white bowl.

Arrange your roast pumpkin salad in a bowl and scatter the reserved pepitas, sesame seeds and pumpkin seeds (if you are using them) on top.

A spoon mixing roast pumpkin salad in a white bowl.

For some added decadence add some crumbled feta. 

Serve when you are ready.

Pumpkin salad on a grey patterned shallow bowl with baby spinach in top left hand corner and orange linen napkin at the bottom.

 Serving Suggestions 🍽

This pumpkin salad recipe is perfect for serving with winter roasts, great with tagines or even warming casseroles or stews. Try it with...

  • A pork belly roast
  • Lamb tagine
  • Chunky beef stew

Tips & Questions

Can I Make Pumpkin Salad Ahead?

Yes, this is a great salad to make in advance; keep it in the fridge or in a cool place until you are ready to serve.

  • Roast your seeds a week in advance and keep them in a sealed container in a dark part of your pantry or the fridge if the weather is too hot.
  • Roast your pumpkin a couple of days in advance and keep it covered in the fridge until you are ready to use; just bring it to room temperature before adding to the spinach leaves.
  • Make the vinaigrette 4-5 days in advance in a sealed container (glass jars are perfect) so that it can be shaken up before adding it to your salad. Just bring it to room temperature first as the oils may harden.

Storage Tips and Leftover Ideas

  • Keep your leftover pumpkin salad in a covered container in the fridge, and it will be good to eat for at least 2-3 days after it has been dressed.
  • Add your favourite grain such as quinoa, bulgur wheat or freekeh to bulk it up the next day.
  • I love the leftovers in an omelette or frittata with some crumbled feta cheese.
  • Also great as a pie or wrap filling with cheese (I love it with halloumi or mozzarella).

Can I Food Prep It for Lunches?

For packed lunches, you must ensure that your spinach leaves are completely dry; otherwise, they could go limp and soggy.

Portion the pumpkin salad into your containers, but keep the dressing in a separate container to add to the salad just before eating.

Recommended Equipment

You will need a good quality sharp knife to cut through the pumpkin skin.
A heavy-duty Y-peeler or even a vegetable peeler to peel the pumpkin.
For super dry salad leaves a salad spinner is essential.

What Diets Is This Roasted Pumpkin Salad Suitable For?

This salad is great for vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free eaters as we use seeds, not nuts.
Not great for keto and low-carb eaters as it has a high carb count - 25 grams of net carbs per serve.

More of Our Spice Blend Recipes

Italian Herb Seasoning - take a trip to Italy with this versatile blend.
Cajun Spice Blend - adds a fiery and flavourful kick to any dish.
Keto Taco Seasoning - bold Mexican flavours minus the fillers and additives.
Harissa Paste - infuses a fiery and aromatic North African flair into your recipes.

Recipe Card

Pumpkin salad on a grey patterned shallow bowl with baby spinach in top left hand corner and orange linen napkin at the bottom.

Moroccan Pumpkin Salad

The Moroccan flavours of Ras el Hanout make the pumpkin in this salad taste exotic.
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Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
* Times are an estimate and will depend on your skill level
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Moroccan
Keyword: make ahead salad, pumpkin
Difficulty: Capable Cooks
Diet: dairy free, Vegan, Vegetarian,
Servings: 4 as a side
Calories: 287kcal
Author: Anastasia Papapetros
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Equipment
  • Salad Spinner
  • Vegetable or Y-Peeler
  • Sharp chef's knife
Ingredients
For roasting
  • 1 medium butternut pumpkin (just under 1 kg or 2.2 pounds)
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 2-3 teaspoons Ras el Hanout (depends on how much spice you like)
  • Sea salt & cracked black pepper
For the salad
  • 2 tablespoons pepitas (toasted)
  • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds (toasted)
  • 100 grams baby spinach (approximately 3.5 ounces or 3 full cups)
For the dressing
  • ½ tablespoon1 sesame oil
  • ½ teaspoon1 Ras el Hanout
  • 1 tablespoon1 soy sauce (low salt)
  • 1 tablespoon1 olive oil (extra virgin)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Metric - Imperial
Instructions
Roast the Pumpkin
  • Preheat oven to 220°C (430°F) and line an oven tray with baking paper.
  • Place diced pumpkin on the tray, drizzle with oils, sprinkle with Ras el Hanout spice, salt, and pepper. Mix until pumpkin is well coated.
  • Spread pumpkin evenly on the prepared baking tray, leaving space between pieces, so that they brown evenly. Add two tablespoons of water.
  • Roast in the middle of the oven until pumpkin is soft and golden brown (about 30-40 minutes). Allow it to cool slightly.
Roast the Seeds
  • While the pumpkin is cooking, spread sesame seeds on a lined baking tray and pepitas on another. Roast in the hot oven until golden brown (about 10 minutes).
  • If you are using the scooped-out pumpkin seeds, wash them well under cold running water to remove any pumpkin strands, pat them dry and place then alongside the pepita seeds to roast.
Shake-Up the Dressing
  • In a glass jar, combine all dressing ingredients, season with salt and cracked black pepper. Shake until well emulsified and adjust seasonings to taste.1
Assemble the Salad
  • Wash baby spinach and remove any damaged or wilted leaves. Pat dry or use a salad spinner to remove excess water.
  • In a large bowl, combine cooled pumpkin, baby spinach, most of the roasted pepitas, and sesame seeds (reserving a few to add on top as a garnish). Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until well combined. Adjust seasonings according to your liking.
  • Arrange the roast pumpkin salad in a bowl and sprinkle with reserved pepitas, sesame seeds, and pumpkin seeds (if using). Optionally, add crumbled feta for added decadence.
  • Serve when ready.

Video

Notes

  1. Taste the dressing and make adjustments based on the strength of the soy sauce and sesame oil you use. Keep in mind that soy sauce can sometimes be salty and sesame oil may be overpowering, so adjust accordingly.
  2. You can wash your pumpkin seeds and roast them to add to your salad if you like. 
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.
Calories: 287kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 32mg | Potassium: 1046mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 27189IU | Vitamin C: 56mg | Calcium: 219mg | Iron: 4mg
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About Anastasia Papapetros

Anastasia has been passionate about cooking since she was eight years old, and hasn't left the kitchen since! With over a decade of experience running her own coffee shop and catering business, Anastasia has developed a true love for salads - especially for family get-togethers and friends' functions. She's the go-to for bringing the perfect salad to any occasion!

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