This Pumpkin Pear Salad is absolutely delicious. Savory, with a touch of sweetness, loaded with seasonal flavors. It's made with all fresh seasonal ingredients, topped with crunchy walnuts, and seasoned with beautiful Pumpkin Seed Oil Vinaigrette. It's not only tasty but nutritious and super HEALTHY. A fall favorite!
Nothing is more delicious than roasted pumpkin served in a beautiful fall-inspired salad, full of fresh seasonal ingredients and flavors. That's why I'm sharing this Pumpkin Pear Salad, which is one of my favorite seasonal salad, loaded with greens, pumpkins, pear, juicy pomegranate seeds, and crunchy walnuts. So delicious!
Lately, I'm obsessed with pumpkins. My pantry is well stocked. Roasting pumpkin is something I enjoy doing. Not only for homemade pumpkin puree for making Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins and family favorite Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies. But also to make beautiful seasonal salads, like this pumpkin salad. It combines two of my favorite ingredients - greens and pumpkins, in one healthy and nutritious meal.
Ingredients used
This Pumpkin Salad is very simple. You will need only a few fresh seasonal ingredients.
- Roasted pumpkin - I used roasted Butternut Squash here, but you can use any type of pumpkin you like or have in your pantry. Pumpkins are sweet, delicious, and packed with nutrients. Very filling and super tasty.
- Spinach - I used baby spinach here, but you can use any fresh seasonal greens you like. Baby spinach has a mellow, sweet taste. It paired nicely with roasted pumpkin. Both are so velvety and delicate.
- Pear & Pomegranate Seeds - They gave this pumpkin salad a nice fruity touch and loads of freshness. Also, they added boosted salad with nutrients and beautiful colors. Just what we need on a cold gloomy day - some colors to brighten our days and vitamins to boost our immunity.
- Walnuts - Walnuts added crunchiness and uplifted this pumpkin salad to the next level of deliciousness. Walnuts are nutty, earthy and so flavorful. But also nutritious, loaded with heart-healthy Omega-3's.
- Parmesan Cheese - True Parmesan cheese has a hard, gritty texture and is fruity and nutty in taste. It's salty and delicious, packed with proteins.
To make the dressing, you will need:
- Pumpkin Seed Oil
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Salt & Pepper
How to make Pumpkin Pear Salad
This pumpkin salad is fairly easy to make. It calls for roasted pumpkin, which is the most time-consuming part, so I always like to start with that step first. If you are a meal prepper and you have roasted pumpkin stored in the fridge then this pumpkin salad is easy peasy for you. Simply skip the first part and just assemble the salad.
Roast the pumpkin
- Preheat oven to 430F/220C (standard) or 390F/200C (fan/convection).
- Line baking tray with baking paper and set aside.
- Peel and cut the pumpkin into 1.25" / 3cm cubes.
- Toss pumpkin with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread on a baking tray, and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the tray from the oven, flip pumpkin cubes, and then bake for another 7 - 10 minutes until nice and golden.
- Remove the pumpkin from the oven and let it cool at room temperature.
Make salad dressing
- Place ingredients in a jar with the lid, close, and shake.
- Taste and adjust to taste. Note that dressing will be a bit sharp to taste, but it will balance itself out in the salad.
Assemble the salad
- Wash and slice the pear. You can cut it into cubes or make thin slices.
-
Place spinach in a bowl. Drizzle with a bit of dressing then toss.
- Add in roasted pumpkin, sliced pear, walnuts, and pomegranate seeds. Toss everything together, very gently.
- Top the salad with shaved parmesan cheese.
- Transfer into a serving dish. Drizzle with remaining dressing. Enjoy!
Substitutions
- You can use any pumpkin or squash for this recipe.
- Substitute walnuts with pecans.
- Substitute pomegranate seeds with dried cranberries.
- Substitute spinach with any greens - lettuce or kale.
- I like to use Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, but you can substitute it for Grana Padano.
Pro tips
- You can serve this Pumpkin Pear Salad warm or cold.
- When roasting pumpkin, make sure you not overtake or burn pumpkin. The pumpkin should be nicely golden, firm, and not mushy.
- When tossing the salad, use the big spoons and toss it GENTLY so you don't squish the pumpkin and break spinach leaves. They are both VERY delicate.
- The dressing doesn't stick on baby spinach well, so it's worth to drizzling the salad at the end.
This Pumpkin Pear Salad is perfect for the Thanksgiving celebration. But it's excellent for any other occasion and family gathering. Also, it makes a great lunch paired with some warming soup.
This pumpkin salad is not only easy to make but super simple too. It's packed with beautiful seasonal flavors, and so nutritious and satisfying.
I'm sure why I like it so much. Is it because of the soft and delicate baby greens and pumpkins? Or fruitiness of pears and pomegranate? Or because of the crunchy walnuts or that parmesan cheese on top. It's probably a combo of ALL these flavors that makes this salad so delicious.
I can't wait to hear your feedback. Enjoy!
Pumpkin Pear Salad
Ingredients
For roasted pumpkin:
- 3 cups butternut squash peeled and cut into 1.25" / 3cm cubes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt & pepper to taste
For the Pumpkin Seed Oil Vinaigrette: (makes 1/2 cup)
- 3 tablespoons pumpkin-seed oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- Salt & pepper to taste
For Pumpkin Pear Salad:
- 6 cups baby spinach (4 handfuls)
- 1 pear
- 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese chaved
Instructions
Roast the pumpkin
- Preheat oven to 430F/220C (standard) or 390F/200C (fan/convection).
- Line baking tray with baking paper and set aside.
- Peel and cut the pumpkin into 1.25" / 3cm cubes.
- Toss pumpkin with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread on a baking tray, and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the tray from the oven, flip pumpkin cubes, and then bake for another 7 - 10 minutes until nice and golden.
- Remove the pumpkin from the oven and let it cool at room temperature.
Make salad dressing
- Place ingredients in a jar with the lid, close, and shake.
- Taste and adjust to taste. Note that dressing will be a bit sharp to taste, but it will balance itself out in the salad.
Assemble the salad
- Wash and slice the pear. You can cut it into cubes or make thin slices.
- Place spinach in a bowl. Drizzle with a bit of dressing then toss.
- Add in roasted pumpkin, sliced pear, walnuts, and pomegranate seeds. Toss everything together, very gently.
- Top the salad with shaved parmesan cheese.
- Transfer into a serving dish. Drizzle with remaining dressing. Enjoy!
Notes
You can use any pumpkin or squash for this recipe.
Substitute walnuts with pecans.
Substitute pomegranate seeds with dried cranberries.
Substitute spinach with any greens - lettuce or kale.
I like to use Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, but you can substitute it for Grana Padano. Pro tips
You can serve this Pumpkin Pear Salad warm or cold.
When roasting pumpkin, make sure you not overtake or burn pumpkin. The pumpkin should be nicely golden, firm, and not mushy.
When tossing the salad, use the big spoons and toss it GENTLY so you don't squish the pumpkin and break spinach leaves. They are both VERY delicate.
The dressing doesn't stick on baby spinach well, so it's worth to drizzling the salad at the end. Nutritional Disclaimer
Nutrition
More salad recipes
This post is originally published on November 17, 2017. It's updated on November 16, 2020, with more information.
Such a delicious fall salad recipe! The pumpkin oil makes it so unique and absolutely worth repeating!
Such a cool recipe. Loved the unique idea of combining pumpkin and pear together. Lived it so much. Super delicious.
I absolutely adore a salad packed with sweet and savory flavors. With all these seasonal flavors going on here, I am going to try it for tomorrow lunch itself.
The combination of pumpkin and pear sounds magnificent and I pinned this so I know to make it as a snack! thank you for sharing.
Such a great and healthy salad! I love roasted pumpkin and the fact that you used it in this salad. The pear adds such great flavor too! Definite winner!!! Thank you so much for sharing!
Hey Natalie,
This is my kinda salad - perfect crunch, texture and flavors. It turned out so yum, I can live on salad whole day! Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe ! :)
Oh thank you, you made this for me! this is my day to day salad, I love the bright colors and all the textures that are going on in this salad!
This is definitely a super Bowl of goodness and health and flavors too. I can snack on this Salad all through the Day. I love the combinations.
This is simply a beautiful and healthy salad. I love the combination of roasted pumpkin and nuts, and how simple the vinaigrette is.
I'm loving all of the salad recipes this Fall! I especially loved the pumpkin in this, so delicious and easy to put together! It's also festive :)
I love non-traditional salad combinations...I'm not sure if I can get fresh pair this season, would really love to try this...
The pumpkin seed vinaigrette sounds so tasty! I will try this on my salad tonight. It sounds like a great way to change up my regular vinaigrette for autumn.
This salad look gorgeous! I love combo of flavors!
This looks absolutely to die for! I'm definitely adding this to my monthly recipe rotation. I love how it's sweet, but still healthy!
I don't eat salad but god this one looks good!
Love the colors of these salad! It's colorful and full of vitamins and nutrients!
This Pumpkin Pear Salad looks soooo scrumptious! I am sure my wife will enjoy this on her plate.
This salad looks perfect for fall! The colors are amazing! I have to say that I have never tried pumpkin in a salad, have to give your recipe a try soon.
Can a salad be more fall appropriate? It looks delicious, I need to make it
This salad looks amazing. I am always looking for new salads to make. I definitely want to give this one a try. I love how colorful it is as well. I try to make my salads very colorful too.
Sounds gorgeous! I've never had a pear salad before but it sounds gorgeous.
I've never had this salad before, but I love a good salad and that sure looks yummy.
This looks delicious! I love salad and this would be a great addition to my salad lineup.
What a unique recipe. I love all the ingredients so I think Id like this combo. Very inspiring recipe.
This salad is amazing! Love all of the flavors and textures. Perfect for fall and winter.
I love pears in salads so much. It's so refreshing. Thanks for the recipe
I love this recipe, it is so healthy and a great fit for my new healthy lifestyle programme. I will definitely try it out.
I love trying different salads. I haven't yet added pumpkin to any though. That sounds like it might be nice and tasty.
Never have a pumpkin salad in my life and this one look so easy and delicious. I will definitely try this, thank you!
This sounds like a good combination of flavors. I have never had pumpkin in a salad before!
I'm not much a salad eater, but this looks delicious! I pinned it so I can make it soon. :)
These flavors look like they will be amazing together! I am adding the ingredients to my shopping list this weekend!
What a delicious looking salad! I am all for eating salads any chance I get, so this new idea of a roast pumpkin pear salad? Totally game! Going to give this a try.
I'm not much of a fruity salad type of girl, but I have to tell you, this one may just change my mind! It looks so delicious and fresh!
This looks so yummy. Looking forward to giving this a try.
Looks delicious. I know my family would go crazy for this!
I love having salads for lunch. This looks so delicious. I cannot wait to try it!
This looks so delicious and tasty! I can't wait to make this! My husband is going to love this!
I love the simple dressing with the pumpkin seed oil and cider vinegar. It ties together the rest of the flavors in this healthy salad perfectly.
Perfectly festive and fall! And so pretty, I'd have no problem at all serving this on my Thanksgiving table.
This is certainly one of the most festive and seasonal salads I have seen yet on social media!! Never thought to put pears and pumpkin together!
What an interesting combo this salad has! I would never think of combining pumpkin and pear. You are a genius! I love it and cannot wait to give it a try!
Your recipes look very mouth watering.
Thank you so much :) I'm glad you feel that way.
This was a lovely salad even without the cheese. Thanks for sharing!
Glad you liked it :) Thanks for feedback!
Looks awesome! I love pomegranate in salad.
I am loving fruit in my salads lately. This looks so good!
This salad is everything that's good about fall! Love all the gorgeous flavors and colors in this salad.
LOVE pomegranates! Such a fun and festive salad! :)
Wow. Pumpkin and pear seem like an interesting combination to try.
Hello Natalie,
I must say that you have a great blog here.
That meal looks so delicious and healthy. I love healthy food, and I believe really that we can have a healthy spirit only in healthy body
Your pictures are amazing! This salad looks so pretty and sounds tasty. I think I'm going to add it to my Thanksgiving menu. Thanks for sharing.
Wow, this salad is gorgeous! Also, I love how we are both all about the pumpkin seed oil dressing this week. I just posted a salad recipe with a very similar dressing - great minds think alike! :)
This looks so delicious and colorful! It's a great option before all of the heavy holiday foods hit!
I love all of these ingredients. Delicious!
I love pears in my salads! Great idea to add in the squash
This salad is gorgeous! Love all the colours :)