3 Delicious Ways to Cook Pumpkin

This antioxidant packed fall-favorite has never looked or tasted better! Try these healthy and delicious recipes today!

1. Crunchy pumpkin salad: Take full advantage of the season's most popular squash with this nutritious spinach salad! Crunchy pumpkin seeds (a great source of iron, protein, and zinc) liven up the dish, while pumpkin cubes add a splash of color.

Ingredients:
5 oz. baby spinach
3 c. pumpkin, cubed
1/2 c. pumpkin seeds, hulled
4 tbsp. dried cherries
1/4 c. crumbled Gorgonzola
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place pumpkin on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and roast until slightly browned. Toss the spinach and pumpkin together, then add seeds, dried cherries and Gorgonzola. Season with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper.

2. Roasted pumpkin: A side dish of roasted pumpkin calls for minimal preparation time. Simply seasoned with parsley and olive oil, this recipe is high in fiber and low in calories. Make it a complete meal with baked chicken and a few slices of bread.

Ingredients:
2 c. pumpkin, cubed
1 c. sweet potato, cubed
1 c. carrot, chopped
1 c. yellow onion, chopped
1 tbsp. parsley
2 tbsp. olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the vegetables in a baking dish and drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper. Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until vegetables are tender. Garnish with parsley.

Related: 10 New Ways to Eat Oatmeal

3. Pumpkin panini: Pack up this wholesome grilled sandwich for lunch on the go. Creamy, tangy feta is the perfect complement to both the slices of sweet pumpkin and the slightly bitter spinach. Use any leftover spinach for a side salad!

Ingredients:
2 ciabatta bread slices (or any other bread)
4 pumpkin slices, roasted
1/2 c. spinach
1/4 c. feta cheese
Salt and pepper

Directions:
Layer pumpkin, spinach and feta in between two slices of bread, then pop it in a sandwich maker. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

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