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    Home » Recipes » Salads

    Green Salad with Pumpkin Seed (Pepita) Dressing

    Published: Jul 2, 2019 · Modified: Feb 18, 2020 by Kate Hackworthy · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Jump to Recipe
    pinnable image for green salad recipe

    Green salad doesn't have to be boring. Nope. I've made this recipe extra special with slices of pear and apple, plus a super-easy, tasty pumpkin seed (pepita) dressing. This is my go-to summer salad.

    A plate of leafy green salad, with slices of apple and pear and a pumpkin seed dressing in a bowl next to it.

    Green Salad

    Green salad does not have to be boring! Sure, some restaurants think green salad just means a handful of leaves (seriously??), but just a few additions turns salad into something special!

    Green salads need a flavourful dressing, so I've whizzed toasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds) with a little oil, apple cider vinegar and a touch of maple syrup. Just a few simple ingredients that turn this salad from a plate of leaves into something incredibly delicious!

    Check out my list of 28 Healthy Salad Recipes!

    Tips and Tricks to Make the Best Green Salad

    • To make the best green salad, start with a base of leaves. Not just flavourless iceberg lettuce (it has it's place, but not in a good salad!), but get a nice mix of leaves - some bitter, some sweet and some crunchy. You want lots of tastes and textures.
    • I like to add radicchio, spinach, rocket/arugula etc...
    • You need a great dressing. This pepitas dressing only needs a few pantry staples, but it's my favourite dressing and I hope it will be yours, too.
    • Add some special 'extras' - I've gone for thin slices of apples and pears. I love fruit in a salad.
    • How do you jazz up a green salad? Sprinkles! Just like a birthday cupcake needs sprinkles, a salad does too. Try croutons, herbs, nuts, sprouted grains or a handful of seeds.
    • Make it last by only putting the dressing on just before serving.
    • Be sure to season your greens.
    • Throw in some fresh herbs.

    Overhead shot of a plate of green salad with slices of apple and pear

    Salad Ingredients

    For this green salad and pumpkin seed dressing, you will need:

    • Mixed lettuce leaves (try different textures and flavours such as radicchio, rocket/arugula, spinach, frisee, chicory, endive...)
    • Pumpkin seeds (aka pepitas)
    • Extra virgin olive oil
    • Apple cider vinegar
    • Maple syrup
    • Parsley
    • Salt and pepper

    Pepita Dressing

    Pepitas are roasted pumpkin seeds (called pepitas in North America, pumpkin seeds in most other places). I like to toast them in a dry frying pan for a couple of minutes so they get fragrant and delicious. Then just whiz them in a food processor briefly with a few other ingredients and you have a delicious, fresh, flavourful dressing for this awesome green salad recipe.

    I make this pumpkin seed dressing all the time, and you can easily adapt it to whatever ingredients you have. Try it with any other seeds that you have to hand, or swap to a different type of vinegar.

    step by step images for making pumpkin seed / pepitas dressing
    To make the dressing, simply toast the pepitas in a dry frying pan, then add to a mini chopper/food processor with the oil, vinegar, maple syrup, parsley and salt and pepper. Whiz until smooth.

    Salad Recipes

    I love easy salads for a healthy dinner, lunch or side dish. Hearty salads, vegan salads, garden salad, tossed salad - you name it, I adore an easy salad.
    Try some of these salad recipes:

    Apple Beetroot Salad with Tahini Dressing
    Strawberry Spinach Salad
    Apple Walnut Salad with Walnut Pesto
    Shredded Brussels Sprout Salad
    Pea Salad
    Broccoli Salad
    Mango Salad
    Brazilian Gaucho Potato Salad
    Vegan Caesar Salad
    Mexican Grilled Chipotle Salad in Tortilla Bowls
    Sauteed Butter Bean Salad

    A plate of leafy green salad with radicchio, topped with apples, pears and pumpkin seed dressing

    Check out my list of 28 Healthy Salad Recipes!

    Get the Green Salad Recipe with Pumpkin Seed Dressing

    Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out for you!
    Leave a comment and star rating below and share a picture with the hashtag #veggiedesserts. I love seeing your recreations of my vegetarian and vegan recipes and cakes.

    Thanks for checking out my recipe! I love hearing from my readers. You all allow me to do what I love and write this UK food blog, sharing vegetarian and vegan recipes, vegetable cake recipes, vegan cake and also easy vegan desserts.
    Kate x

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    A plate of leafy green salad with radicchio, topped with apples, pears and pumpkin seed dressing

    Green Salad with Pumpkin Seed Dressing

    Kate Hackworthy | Veggie Desserts
    Green salad doesn't have to be boring. Oh no! I've made this recipe extra special with slices of pear and apple, plus a quick, tasty pumpkin seed dressing.
    5 from 9 votes
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    Prep Time 13 mins
    Cook Time 2 mins
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course Dinner, Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine American, Vegan
    Servings 4
    Calories 288 kcal

    Equipment

    • mixing bowl
    • Food processor (or mini chopper or blender)

    Ingredients
     

    For the pumpkin seed dressing

    • 4 tablespoon pumpkin seeds divided
    • 5 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
    • Salt and pepper

    For the green salad

    • 4 cups (250g) mixed lettuce leaves
    • 1 ripe pear
    • 1 apple

    To serve (optional)

    • Small handful of fresh parsley chopped
    • 2 tbps pumpkin seeds reserved from the dressing
    • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds white, black or mixed
    • salt and pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Heat a dry frying pan over a medium heat, then add the pumpkin seeds and toast them for a few minutes, shaking often until they just start to darken slightly. Reserve 2 tablespoons of them to garnish, and pour the remainder into a food processor or blender. Add the rest of the dressing ingredients, plus 2 tablespoon of water, and blitz until fairly smooth.
    • To assemble the salad, chop the radicchio into bite sized pieces and add them to a large serving bowl with the other salad leaves then toss.
    • Core the pear and apple and thinly slice them with the skins on. Add them to the salad along with the dressing and toss.
    • Serve sprinkled with the parsley, reserved pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds and season with salt and pepper.

    Notes

    Inspired by Happy Pear

    Nutrition

    Calories: 288kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 4gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 10mgPotassium: 294mgFiber: 4gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 385IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 1.4mg

    The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.

    Tried this recipe?Mention @kateveggiedesserts or tag #veggiedesserts! I love seeing your recreations.

    More Salad Recipes

    • Quinoa and Black Beans
    • Zucchini Halloumi Couscous
    • Caprese Pasta Salad
    • Broad Bean Salad
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Karen

      June 29, 2022 at 3:00 am

      5 stars
      So simple and soooo delicious!!!!

      Reply
    2. Debbie Skerten

      July 07, 2019 at 9:15 am

      5 stars
      I love finding new salads. This one looks delicious and I can't wait to try the pumpkin dressing. It sounds heavenly.

      Reply
    3. Toni

      July 03, 2019 at 2:36 pm

      5 stars
      I love it! Packed full of flavors and so easy to make!

      Reply
    4. Kacie M

      July 03, 2019 at 1:43 pm

      5 stars
      This salad looks so appealing and exciting. When I make salads, they often just appear dull and boring to me. I'll have to take a leaf (excuse the pun!) out of your book.

      Reply
    5. Bintu

      July 03, 2019 at 1:28 pm

      5 stars
      Now this sounds like such a delicious summer salad! I love the sound of the dressing.

      Reply
    6. Renee Goerger

      July 02, 2019 at 5:49 pm

      5 stars
      I love everything about this salad. The ingredients and flavors are some of my very favorites!

      Reply
    7. Jennifer Banz

      July 02, 2019 at 5:44 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe for summer! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Kate, a journalist, author and multi-award-winning food blogger. I hope you enjoy my vegetarian and vegan recipes. About Me

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    Check out my Veggie Desserts Cookbook, full of tasty desserts with vegetables!

    Kate Hackworthy in the kitchen

    Hi, I'm Kate, a journalist, author and multi-award-winning food blogger. I hope you enjoy my vegetarian and vegan recipes. About Me

    Collage of press logos.

    Popular recipes

    • The BEST Easy Red Lentil Dahl
    • Easy Naan Bread Recipe (yeast-free)
    • Mini Baked Potatoes
    • Easy Lentil Soup

    Healthy Recipes

    • Butternut Squash Salad
    • Easy Healthy Cabbage Soup
    • Easy Vegan Ramen (15 minutes)
    • Rajma Masala (Kidney Bean Curry)

    My cookbook

    Veggie Desserts and Cakes Cookbook cover.

    Check out my Veggie Desserts Cookbook, full of tasty desserts with vegetables!

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