Lighten Up with Fall Salads

As we head into the chilly days of fall, we often find ourselves fueling up on filling dishes that are hearty and warm. While stews, soups, and chilis are staples during the cooler months, it’s just good to lighten up your plate and try these fall and winter salads full of the produce you love, but often forget to feature on your plates. 

Quinoa Pumpkin Salad, protein-rich quinoa and sweet roasted pumpkin, is folded with chopped scallions, diced tomato, parsley and a sprinkling of cotija cheese. Filling yet flavorful, the agave, lime and olive oil dressing keep it bright and fresh.

Our Triple A Salad comines baby arugula topped with roasted acorn squash and ancho chile. Dressed with a simple olive oil and flaked sea salt, this dish lets the ingredients speak for themselves.

Looking for something with a little more kick? Spicy Red Pepper Pasta Salad, a mix of fresh roasted red peppers, whole wheat penne, avocado and corn in a minced habanero dressing satisfies the craving for heat. And besides, we’ll munch on a Latin pasta salad any day of the week.

And click here for a bonus video on how to make a beautiful roasted fall veggie salad! [pagebreak]

Quinoa Pumpkin Salad

• 2 cups black quinoa, cooked
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 teaspoons blue agave
• 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 scallion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon parsley
• 2 ounces cotija, cubed or crumbled
• 1 cup roasted pumpkin, diced
• 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes

Get the full recipe.

Triple A Salad

• 4 cups arugula, washed and packed
• 2 cups roasted acorn squash, cubed
• 1 teaspoon ground ancho chile
• 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Get the full recipe.          

Spicy Red Pepper Pasta Salad

• 1/2 pound whole wheat penne pasta
• 2 sweet red peppers, halved and deseeded
• 1/2 habanero, deseeded and minced
• 1 avocado, diced
• 1 cup corn
• 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Get the full recipe.