Author Notes
I first heard of making a salad inside a hot, roasted pumpkin from the Argentine chef, Francis Mallman. He actually roasts his in a campfire! My version of this unusual salad is streamlined for the home cook. Enjoy this wonderful comfort food on a cold day. Makes enough for a light meal, or use it as an impressive starter in a larger feast. NOTE: You can make the salad with any gourd that is in season - pumpkin, acorn squash, etc. I used acorn squash because of the small size and quicker roasting time. I first made this dish for my blog Global Table Adventure, where I cook one meal for every country in the world, A-Z. —Sasha (Global Table Adventure)
Continue After Advertisement
Ingredients
- For the Salad
-
2
Acorn Squash
-
Splash
Olive Oil
-
Pinch
Salt
-
Pinch
Pepper
-
1 bunch
Baby Arugula
-
8 ounces
Bucheron - aged goat cheese (or substitute chèvre)
- For the dressing
-
1.5 tablespoons
chopped fresh mint
-
1.5 tablespoons
chopped fresh oregano
-
1/4 cup
red wine vinegar
-
1/2 cup
olive oil
-
salt
-
pepper
Directions
-
Preheat the oven to 400F.
-
Cut pumpkins in half and remove seeds and strings. Brush cut ends liberally with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
-
Roast for 45 min-1 hour, or until a fork pierces the flesh with no resistance.
-
Meanwhile, whisk together ingredients for the vinaigrette in a small bowl. I used an immersion blender to emulsify and “puree” everything together. You can also add everything to a blender or food processor and get the same result.
-
Transfer roasted pumpkin to serving plates. While still steaming, fill the cavities with crumbles of goat cheese and then baby arugula.
-
Add vinaigrette to taste and toss, being sure to scrape pumpkin flesh into salad as you toss. Eat immediately.
-
NOTE: I suggest letting guests assemble their own salad at table. This is a fun and interactive first course. Provide a shallow bowl to hold the pumpkin and 2 small spoons per person so that they can smash the ingredients together themselves.
See what other Food52ers are saying.