Hearty, nutritious and tasty – this Vegetarian Roast Pumpkin & Lentil Pasta Salad is the perfect choice for a nourishing lunch or dinner and is sure to be one of your new go-to pumpkin salad recipes.
It’s packed with plant-based protein and essential nutrients that will have you feeling your best.
You don’t need to be a plant-based eater to enjoy the flavour sensation of this wholesome and tasty pasta salad.
Let’s show you how to make it:
Table of Contents
Ingredients For The Vegetarian Roast Pumpkin & Lentil Pasta Salad
You’ll need:
- 120g Canned Lentils (drained weight)
- 70g Vetta Smart Pasta Protein Penne (weighed dry)
- 100g Pumpkin
- 15 Onion
- 30g Baby Spinach
- 5g Fresh Parsley
- 30g Danish Feta Cheese
- 15ml Lemon Juice
Making Your Vegetarian Roast Pumpkin & Lentil Pasta Salad
Make the dish in these four simple steps:
- Preheat the oven to 180°C. Chop pumpkin and place it on an oven tray lined with baking paper. Season with salt and pepper. Bake in the oven until softened and golden.
- Cook pasta as per the packet directions. Once cooked, set aside.
- Rinse and drain lentils. Chop spinach, feta and parsley (if listed).
- Combine lentils, vegetables and cooked pasta. Season with salt and pepper. Top with lemon juice.
Pumpkin Salad Recipes | Nutritional Information
This dish contains 464 calories – 30 grams of protein, 9 grams of fat, a decent 60 grams of carbohydrates, and 16 grams of fibre.
Vegetarian Roast Pumpkin & Lentil Pasta Salad | Fibre For Optimal Health
Fibre is an essential nutrient that plays a vital role in maintaining good health.
It regulates our digestion, blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels, and bowel movements.
Additionally, a high-fibre diet can help in weight management and improve overall gut health by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut.
So, how much fibre do we need daily?
A good target is 14 grams of fibre per 1000 calories consumed.
So if you’re eating 2000 calories per day, you’d consume 28 grams of fibre per day.
How Does Fibre Help with Weight Loss?
Fibre increases chewing time and delays the time it takes for food to pass through your stomach. This means you’re fuller for longer and are less likely to overeat.
Additionally, fibre encourages the growth of a more favourable gut microbiome which is associated with lower long-term weight gain.
These factors have led researchers to conclude that fibre allows for an “increased ease of weight loss.”
This is what makes this fibre-rich pumpkin salad recipe a great staple in your weekly meal rotation.
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