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Roasted pumpkin is a delightful, nutritious autumn meal that can complement your main dish or enhance a salad. Explore this article to discover several methods for roasting a pumpkin.
Ingredients
Basic Roast Pumpkin
- 1 small pumpkin or 1/4 large pumpkin
- Drizzle of olive oil
- Dash of salt and pepper
Total Time: 30 minutes|Servings: 4
Spicy Roasted Pumpkin
- 2 pounds of fresh pumpkin, peeled and deseeded
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon of ground cumin or cumin seeds
Total Time: 1 hour|Servings: 4-6
Cinnamon Roasted Pumpkin
- 3 pounds of pumpkin, peeled and deseeded
- 1/4 cup of brown sugar
-
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 2 tablespoons of peanut or olive oil
Total Time: 1 hour|Servings: 8-10
Steps
Basic Roast Pumpkin
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius).
Prepare the pumpkin. Slice the pumpkin in half using a large knife. Remove the stringy insides and seeds. Set aside the seeds for toasted pumpkin seeds later.
Cut the pumpkin into 1-inch thick slices. Pierce the outer skin of the pumpkin with the tip of a large chef's knife. Insert the knife into the groove and slowly slice through the pumpkin using a rocking motion.
- The thicker your slices, the longer the roasting time needed. It's advisable to cut slices approximately 1 inch thick to ensure proper caramelization.
Prepare pumpkin wedges for roasting. Arrange pumpkin wedges on a large roasting tray and generously drizzle with olive oil.
Season your pumpkin wedges. Salt and pepper are classic, but consider experimenting with different combinations for unique flavors:
- Garam masala
- Cumin and curry powder
- Clove, cinnamon, and brown sugar
- Maple syrup
- Red pepper
Roast. Roast the pumpkin wedges for approximately 20 minutes. For wedges slightly larger than 1 inch thick, extend the roasting time to 25 minutes and check every 5 minutes thereafter. For wedges slightly smaller than 1 inch thick, roast for 15 minutes initially, then check every 5 minutes thereafter.
Spicy Roasted Pumpkin
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). This step will help expedite the cooking process.
Cut. Slice the pumpkin into 2-inch cubes using a sharp chef's knife. In a small bowl, combine olive oil, salt, pepper, and cumin.
Coat the baking sheet. Grease a baking sheet with cooking spray or olive oil. Alternatively, line the sheet with aluminum foil.
- Arrange the pumpkin pieces on the baking sheet, ensuring they are not touching. Use a spoon to drizzle the olive oil mixture over them or brush each piece with the mixture.
Bake for 30-35 minutes. The pumpkin should be tender and lightly browned around the edges when done.
Take out from the oven and let it cool. Pumpkin can be served warm as a side dish or refrigerated and served cold with a salad. Enjoy!
Cinnamon Roasted Pumpkin
Preheat oven to 325°F (162°C). In a small bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Mix well.
Slice. Use a chef's knife to cut the pumpkin into 2-inch (5.1 cm) pieces. You can dice them or slice them into approximately 1⁄4 inch (0.6 cm) thick slices.
Coat the baking dish. Grease the baking dish with cooking spray, olive oil, or butter to prevent sticking. Arrange the pumpkin on the baking sheet.
Apply oil. Use a basting brush to coat the pieces with peanut oil, olive oil, or butter. If a basting brush is unavailable, use a spoon to drizzle oil onto the pumpkin, ensuring each piece is covered.
Sprinkle seasonings. Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar over the pumpkin. Cover the baking dish.
Bake. Let the pumpkin bake in the oven for 40 minutes. Remove the baking dish, stir the pumpkin, then continue baking, uncovered, for an additional 15 minutes. The pumpkin should be tender when done.
Allow to cool before serving. Pumpkin can be served as a side dish or dessert. Consider serving with whipped cream or vanilla bean ice cream. Dust with a touch of spice for an appealing presentation.
Tips
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Consider adding your preferred seasonings to the pumpkin before roasting, such as thyme, rosemary, cayenne pepper, etc.
-
Roasted pumpkin can easily be transformed into pumpkin puree, which has numerous uses: baby food, pumpkin pie, even in meatballs, pumpkin soup, pumpkin pasta sauce, and more!
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Pumpkins are in season starting in the fall and typically last through the winter. They can be stored at room temperature for up to a month.
Things You'll Need
- Baking sheet/dish
- Aluminum foil or non-stick cooking spray
- Basting brush (optional)
- Small bowl for mixing
