Hearty pumpkin, kale, quinoa, and tofu salad with a creamy tahini dressing. Perfect for meal prep—layer in jars to keep fresh for up to 3 days.
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutesminutes
Cook Time 40 minutesminutes
Total Time 1 hourhour
Servings 4serves
Calories 562kcal
Ingredients
Salad
2.2lbpumpkinpeeled and cut into 1¼-inch pieces; approx. 1 kg
2tbspolive oildivided; for roasting and sautéing
¼tspsaltfor seasoning pumpkin and kale; approx. 1.5g
¼tspblack pepperor to taste
1cupquinoadry; approx. 6.3 oz / 177g
2cupsvegetable brothlow sodium if preferred; approx. 16 oz / 473ml
1bunchkalestems removed, leaves roughly chopped; approx. 8 oz / 225g
½red onionthinly sliced
¼cuppine nutstoasted; approx. 2½ oz / 71g
16ozextra firm tofupressed and crumbled; approx. 450g
Tahini Dressing
⅓cuptahinihulled; approx. 2¾ oz / 85g
1lemonjuiced; approx. 2–3 tbsp / 30–45ml
4tbspwateradjust as needed for consistency
1tspgarlic powder
1tspsumacoptional
½tspground cumin
½tspsaltapprox. 2g
Instructions
Make the Salad:
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the pumpkin pieces on the tray, drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil, and sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Toss to coat evenly, then spread out in a single layer. Roast for 40 minutes, or until golden and tender, flipping once halfway.
Rinse the quinoa under cold water if needed. Add quinoa and vegetable broth to a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the broth is absorbed. Remove from heat, fluff with a fork, and set aside to cool.
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add about ¾ of the kale and sauté for 3–5 minutes, or until wilted. Transfer to a plate.
Spread the remaining kale on a parchment-lined baking sheet, toss with a small drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt, and bake at 400°F for 10–15 minutes, or until crisp. Watch closely to avoid burning.
In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast pine nuts for 2–3 minutes, stirring frequently until golden and fragrant. Remove from heat.
Make the Dressing:
In a small bowl, whisk together the tahini, lemon juice, water, garlic powder, sumac (if using), cumin, and salt. Adjust water to reach your desired consistency.
Assemble or Layer for Meal Prep:
If serving immediately, toss the quinoa, sautéed kale, crumbled tofu, red onion, roasted pumpkin, and pine nuts in a large bowl. Drizzle with dressing and top with crispy kale.
For meal prep jars, divide dressing between 4 jars first. Layer the ingredients in the following order: crumbled tofu, roasted pumpkin, sautéed kale, quinoa, red onion, pine nuts, and finally crispy kale. Seal and refrigerate for up to 3 days. To serve, invert into a bowl and toss.