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Autumn Farmers' Market Salad

This autumn farmers' market salad is a vibrant celebration of seasonal textures and colours. Featuring caramelised roasted butternut squash tossed with peppery rocket and crunchy toasted walnuts, it offers a sophisticated balance of sweet and savoury notes. The addition of juicy pomegranate seeds provides a refreshing burst of flavour that cuts through the richness of the nut oil dressing.

As a hearty vegan dish, this salad is as nutritious as it is beautiful, making it a wonderful choice for a light lunch or an impressive dinner party side dish. The pomegranate molasses adds a professional finishing touch, providing a deep, tangy glaze that ties all the components together. It is a brilliant way to showcase the best produce of the harvest season.

Continue reading below

Ingredients for Autumn Farmers' Market Salad

  • 1025 to 1125g 1/2-inch cubes peeled seeded butternut squash (from about one 900g squash)

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • Pinch of dried crushed red pepper

  • Coarse kosher salt

  • 2 tablespoons orange juice

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons walnut oil or other nut oil

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

  • 110g rocket (about 8 cups lightly packed)

  • 80g walnuts, toasted, coarsely chopped

  • 70g pomegranate seeds

  • 2 teaspoons pomegranate molasses*

How to make Autumn Farmers' Market Salad

Preheat oven to 232°C. Toss squash, olive oil, and crushed red pepper on large rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with coarse salt. Roast 15 minutes. Using spatula, turn squash over. Roast until edges are browned and squash is tender, about 15 minutes longer. Sprinkle with coarse salt. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.

Whisk orange juice, walnut oil, and lemon juice in large shallow bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add rocket, walnuts, and pomegranate seeds; toss to coat. Season to taste with coarse salt and pepper. Spoon warm or roomtemperature squash over salad. Drizzle with pomegranate molasses and serve.

A thick pomegranate syrup; available at some supermarkets and at Middle Eastern markets, and from adrianascaravan.com.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.

Article history

The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.

  • 16 Jan 2026 | Originally published

    Authored by:

    UK recipe editors

    Peer reviewed by

    UK recipe editors
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