Autumn Chopped Salad with Pumpkin Vinaigrette

When everything on your Thanksgiving table is beige and roasted…

It’s nice to have a fresh and colorful salad.  This one combines pear, cucumber and sweet red pepper tossed with dried cranberries, feta and pumpkin vinaigrette.  Toasted pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds) are sprinkled on the top.  If you can find it, a drizzle of toasted pumpkin seed oil makes it extra special!

Autumn Chopped Salad with Pumpkin Vinaigrette:

I decided to try the Dicing Kit that fits my KitchenAid 13-cup Food Processor.

Here we go!

Awesome!

Chopped pear, pepper, cucumber and red onion

pumpkin vinaigrette

Toss in bowl with feta, dried cranberries and parsley

Toast some pepitas…

…until they’re toasty. Sometimes they pop – beware ( :

Toss together and sprinkle with pepitas

Thanks for spending some time in the cloud with me!  I hope you enjoy the recipe. Tina ( :

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Autumn Chopped Salad with Pumpkin Vinaigrette

When everything on your Thanksgiving table is beige and roasted...It's nice to have a fresh and colorful salad.  This one combines pear, cucumber and sweet red pepper that is tossed with dried cranberries, feta and a pumpkin vinaigrette.  Toasted pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds) are sprinkled on the top.  If you can find it, a drizzle of toasted pumpkin seed oil makes it extra special!

Votes: 5
Rating: 3.6
You:

Rate this recipe!

Servings

5 cups

Ingredients

Salad Ingredients:

• 1 seedless (English) cucumber peeled and chopped
• 1 red pear cored and chopped
• 1 red pepper seeded and chopped
• 1/4 red onion chopped
• 1/2 cup flat leaf parsley chopped
• 1/3 cup feta cheese crumbled
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup raw pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds)
• 1 teaspoon oil for toasting pepitas
• 1/8 teaspoon salt for seasoning pepitas

Pumpkin Vinaigrette Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
• 1 small clove garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1/2 teaspoon dry thyme
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• optional toasted pumpkin seed oil

Servings 5 cups Ingredients Salad Ingredients: 1 seedless (English) cucumber peeled and chopped 1 red pear cored and chopped 1 red pepper seeded and chopped 1/4 red onion chopped 1/2 cup flat leaf parsley chopped 1/3 cup feta cheese crumbled 1/4 cup dried cranberries 1/4 cup raw pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds) 1 teaspoon oil for toasting pepitas 1/8 teaspoon salt for seasoning pepitas Pumpkin Vinaigrette Ingredients: 1/4 cup pumpkin puree 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar 2 tablespoons maple syrup 1 teaspoon dijon mustard 1 small clove garlic 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon pepper 1 tablespoon water 1/2 teaspoon dry thyme 1/2 cup olive oil optional toasted pumpkin seed oil

Votes: 5 Rating: 3.6 You: Rate this recipe!

Instructions

1. In large bowl, toss together chopped cucumber, pear, pepper, onion, parsley, feta and cranberries.
2. Combine pumpkin, vinegar, syrup, Dijon, garlic, salt, pepper, water and thyme in food processor or chopper and blend until well mixed.  With processor running, drizzle in olive oil. 
3. Toast pepitas in a skillet with a little neutral oil and some kosher salt – low heat, keep watch until fragrant and beginning to brown.  They will pop a little bit.
4. Mix desired amount of dressing into chopped salad.  Drizzle with a little toasted pumpkin seed oil if desired.
5. Sprinkle with pepitas right before serving.