V for Veggy

Home / All Recipes / Japanese / Kabocha Pumpkin Salad

Kabocha Pumpkin Salad

Sweet and creamy kabocha pumpkin salad, with apple, pumpkin seeds, and pomegranate seeds. This bright and colorful salad is perfect for your holiday table.

Do you know you can turn kabocha pumpkin into a creamy, sweet, and delightful salad? Kabocha pumpkin salad is super common in both Japan and Korea, and you can learn how to prepare this super easy and delicious salad from my recipe. I am pairing this with apples and pomegranate seeds since they are abundant and in season right now, but you can customize this kabocha salad and come up with your own creation.

Ingredients for kabocha pumpkin salad: kabocha pumpkin flesh, apple, kabocha pumpkin seeds, pomegranate seeds, mayonnaise, mustard, and honey.
Ingredients for kabocha pumpkin salad: kabocha pumpkin flesh, apple, kabocha pumpkin seeds, pomegranate seeds, mayonnaise, mustard, and honey.

What goes into this kabocha pumpkin salad?

You will need:

  • 500 gram (1.1 lb) kabocha pumpkin flesh
  • 1 small apple
  • 2 tablespoon shelled kabocha pumpkin seeds
  • 2 tablespoon pomegranate seeds
  • 2-3 tablespoon mayonnaise, preferably Kewpie
  • 1-2 teaspoon mustard, classic yellow or dijon
  • 1-2 teaspoon honey
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

If you need a guide to prepare a whole kabocha pumpkin, please take a look at my simmered kabocha in shio koji recipe for a detailed step-by-step guide to cut a kabocha. And if you want to use homemade roasted pumpkin seeds, please take a look at my soy sauce roasted kabocha pumpkin seeds recipe.

Steamed and mashed kabocha pumpkin flesh mixed with mayonnaise, mustard, honey, and salt. Then add diced apples, shelled kabocha pumpkin seeds, and pomegranate seeds.
Steamed and mashed kabocha pumpkin flesh mixed with mayonnaise, mustard, honey, and salt. Then add diced apples, shelled kabocha pumpkin seeds, and pomegranate seeds.

How to prepare kabocha pumpkin salad?

A kabocha pumpkin salad takes about as much effort as a potato salad, meaning, almost no time at all. Here is my step-by-step:

  1. Steam kabocha. Cut kabocha pumpkin into wedges and place in a basket steamer. Steam until the pumpkin is soft enough to be mashed with a fork.
  2. Season kabocha. Transfer steamed kabocha to a mixing bowl, mash with a fork, but leave some big kabocha chunks. Add mayonnaise, mustard, honey, and salt. Stir and adjust the amount of seasoning as needed.
  3. Add the rest of the ingredients. Add diced apples, shelled kabocha pumpkin seeds, and pomegranate seeds. Fold gently to mix evenly.
  4. Chill and serve. Chill the salad mixture in the fridge for at least 1 hour. Serve the kabocha salad cold.
Kabocha Pumpkin Salad.
Kabocha Pumpkin Salad.

Variations to this kabocha salad

This kabocha salad is quite versatile. You can play around with what you want to add in step 3. For this recipe, I use apple, pumpkin seeds, and pomegranate seeds. But you can easily use some of these instead:

  • diced cucumber or diced Asian pear (those crunchy ones!) instead of apple
  • raisin or dried cranberries instead of pomegranate seeds
  • chopped nuts (walnut, almond, pecan, pine, e.t.c.) instead of pumpkin seeds

You can even add some crumbled cheese and thinly sliced onion if you wish. So go ahead and use what you have at home to make your own version of kabocha salad.

Kabocha Pumpkin Salad

5.0 from 8 reviews

Author: Anita Jacobson

Courses: 

Cuisines:  

Diets: 

Ingredients: 

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 30 mins

Serves: 4

Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 500 gram (1.1 lb) kabocha pumpkin flesh
  • 1 small apple, cored and diced (Note #1)
  • 2 tablespoon shelled kabocha pumpkin seeds (Note #2)
  • 2 tablespoon pomegranate seeds (Note #3)
  • 2-3 tablespoon mayonnaise, preferably Kewpie
  • 1-2 teaspoon mustard, classic yellow or dijon
  • 1-2 teaspoon honey
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Steam kabocha. Cut kabocha pumpkin into wedges and place in a basket steamer. Steam until the pumpkin is soft enough to be mashed with a fork.
  2. Season kabocha. Transfer steamed kabocha to a mixing bowl, mash with a fork, but leave some big kabocha chunks. Add mayonnaise, mustard, honey, and salt. Stir and adjust the amount of seasoning as needed.
  3. Add the rest of the ingredients. Add diced apples, shelled kabocha pumpkin seeds, and pomegranate seeds. Fold gently to mix evenly.
  4. Chill and serve. Chill the salad mixture in the fridge for at least 1 hour. Serve the kabocha salad cold.

Notes

  • (1) Use diced cucumber or diced Asian pear (those crunchy ones!) instead of apple.
  • (2) Use chopped nuts (walnut, almond, pecan, pine, e.t.c.) instead of pumpkin seeds.
  • (3) Use raisin or dried cranberries instead of pomegranate seeds.

Comments

  • Anjali  Anjali says:

    This was the perfect winter salad! Love the combination of sweet & savory and it was so simple to make too!

  • Tonje Tonje says:

    I've never hard of this salad before, but it looks amazing! Will be trying this for sure.

  • Dannii Dannii says:

    What a delicious and hearty salad. Great for autumn.

  • Adrianne Adrianne says:

    Oh wow! This is so original and sounds awesome. I love how authentic this recipe is! This would make you feel good for the inside out.

  • Michelle Alston Michelle Alston says:

    I love all the flavours in this salad, it's so refreshing and very tasty. Definitely a keeper!

  • Monica | Nourish and Fete Monica | Nourish and Fete says:

    I love salads with these flavors, especially the pumpkin and pomegranate! They are perfect to me with anything in the fall. Thanks for the recipe!

  • Lisa | Garlic & Zest Lisa | Garlic & Zest says:

    I love the flavors and textures you've achieved in this healthy dish. Mouthwatering!

  • Andrea Andrea says:

    What a colorful salad! I love pomegranate arils, and they make a great combination with the pumpkin.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rate this recipe: