Perfectly oven roasted pumpkin: an easy, versatile recipe for roasting pumpkin, you can enjoy the spicy pumpkin wedges with yogurt dip or as a side dish.

ROASTED PUMPKIN

Learn how to cook roast pumpkin perfectly!

This roasted pumpkin is my last recipe in this Pumpkin Series and I could almost say that this time I saved the best for last. I love every other recipe that I’ve posted during the past two weeks, but these spicy pumpkin wedges are really my favorite. The best oven roasted pumpkin recipe there is!!! Delicious, healthy, low-calorie, gluten-free, vegan and so on.

Not only because it is so thoroughly delicious, but also due to the fact that it is so extremely easy to make and so easy to change according to your taste.

WHAT DOES ROASTED PUMPKIN TASTE LIKE?

• The process of roasting the pumpkin makes it incredibly delicious, brings out more of its sweetness and flavor.
• Roasting is probably the best thing you can do to a fresh pumpkin, as it enhances the flavors and gives the pumpkin or squash a soft, creamy consistency that will not be entirely achieved when only cooking the pumpkin on the stove.
• The recipe for today’s spicy roasted pumpkin wedges makes a meal in itself, the pumpkin is already spiced and it is meant to be enjoyed as a light meal or a side dish.
• But if you would like to learn how to cook roast pumpkin to use for other purposes, have a look at this blog post on How to Roast a Pumpkin. You could use that roasted pumpkin to make not only savory dishes, but also pumpkin pie, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin cheesecake and so on.

INGREDIENTS FOR SPICY ROASTED PUMPKIN

Spices:

The spice mixture I used to make the oven-roasted pumpkin can be changed as well according to your taste or needs at the moment. I chose a Middle-Eastern inspired spice mix this time because I wanted to pair this with a yogurt tahini dip, but actually when it comes to spices the sky is the limit.

Use a few, use many, use any spice mixture you like, let your mood or the main dish inspire you…

Some spice mixture ideas:

• 3-4 TBS olive oil + 2 grated garlic cloves + 1 ts ground cumin + ½ ts ground coriander + 1 ts hot paprika powder + ½ ts turmeric powder + salt and pepper to taste – this is the spice mixture featured today.
• 3-4 TBS olive oil + salt and pepper to taste
• 3-4 TBS olive oil + ½ ts hot smoked paprika powder + 1 ts sweet paprika powder + 2 grated garlic cloves + salt and pepper to taste
• 3-4 TBS olive oil + 1 teaspoon dried thyme + ½ ts dried rosemary + 2 grated garlic cloves + salt and pepper to taste
• 3-4 TBS olive oil + ½ ts ground cumin + 1 ts ground coriander + 1/8 ts nutmeg + red chili flakes to taste + salt and pepper to taste
• 3-4 TBS olive oil + 2 ts clear honey + 1 grated garlic clove + 1 TBS soy sauce + salt and pepper to taste
• 3-4 TBS olive oil + pinch ground cloves + ½ ts cinnamon + 2 TBS brown sugar + a little salt
• 3-4 TBS olive oil + 1 ts allspice + 2 TBS brown sugar + a little salt
• and so on…

Pumpkin:

• The pumpkin you can see in the photographs is a Hokkaido pumpkin, also called a red Kuri squash, that’s why I didn’t need to peel it.
• If you choose butternut squash or another kind of pumpkin for this roasted pumpkin recipe, then do peel them.
• Don’t try to roast slices of jack o’ lanterns, that kind of pumpkin should be kept for decoration purposes only.

HOW DO YOU PREPARE A PUMPKIN?

You could prepare the roasted pumpkin wedges in advance or just before roasting:

• Cut the Hokkaido pumpkin or butternut squash into wedges, about 1.5 cm/ 0.6 inches thick, place them in the casserole dish or on a baking sheet. Keep in mind that Hokkaido pumpkin doesn’t have to be peeled, but butternut squash (or any other pumpkins or squashes) needs peeling.
• Make the marinade by mixing together the grated garlic, spices, olive oil, salt and pepper to taste.
• Rub the pumpkin wedges with the spice mixture until coated all over and let them marinate until ready to roast them.
• Bake the pumpkin wedges in the preheated oven at 200 degrees Celsius/ 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 25-30 minutes or until the pumpkin wedges are as soft as you like them, I like them very soft.
• In the meantime make the yogurt tahini dip, if serving it with the roasted pumpkin wedges. Mix all the ingredients together and set aside.

That’s it! And the result, the best pumpkin wedges ever, if you ask me.

WHAT CAN I MAKE WITH ROASTED PUMPKIN?

This recipe serves two or three as a main dish and 4 as a side dish, but it can be easily doubled, just use a baking sheet instead of a roasting pan, if you do. I often roast a double batch of pumpkin wedges, I love them so much I can have at just about any meal.

• The oven-roasted pumpkin makes a great side dish roast chicken, for instance, baked chicken drumsticks, baked chicken thighs or a whole roasted chicken.
• You can add it to salads, make a roast pumpkin salad, add it to a grain salad like the roasted buckwheat salad or couscous salad.
• You can use it to make pumpkin soup.
• Or you can make sandwiches, I so love roast pumpkin sandwiches. Spread some cream cheese, hummus or another vegan spread on a slice of bread, top with roasted pumpkin wedges, add some thin cucumber or tomato slices, a lettuce leaf, and maybe a few drops of hot chili sauce (if you like it). Place another bread slice on top and cut in half. So good!

PIN IT FOR LATER!

Oven Roasted Pumpkin Recipe (Spicy Wedges)

Yield: 3

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Perfectly roasted pumpkin: an easy, spicy baked pumpkin recipe, you can enjoy this as a vegetarian meal with yogurt dip or as a side dish for meat, poultry or fish.

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Ingredients

• Roasted pumpkin
• 750 g/ 26.5 oz Hokkaido pumpkin, one small (See note)
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon hot paprika powder
• ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
• 3-4 tablespoons olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste
• Yogurt tahini dip:
• 150 g/ 5.3 oz/ about 2/3 cup Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon tahini
• 1 teaspoon za'atar
• 1 garlic clove
• lemon juice, to taste
• fine sea salt
• pepper

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius/ 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Wash and dry the Hokkaido pumpkin, you don't have to peel this sort. If you are using butternut squash or other sort of pumpkin, you will have to peel those. Remove the seeds. Cut the pumpkin into wedges, about 1.5 cm/ 0.6 inches thick. Place them in a bowl or in a casserole dish if you are baking them directly.

In a small bowl mix together the roughly chopped garlic and the spices. Add the olive oil and stir to blend. You could add more olive oil if you wish, but I don't find it necessary. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Pour the mixture over the pumpkin wedges and rub well with your hands to make sure that all the wedges are coated in the spice mixture. Leave to marinate for a while or roast immediately for about 25-30 minutes until the wedges are as soft as you like them. You could start checking after about 20 minutes already.

Serve hot with yogurt tahini dip or as a side dish.

Yogurt tahini dip: mix together Greek yogurt, tahini, za'atar, grated garlic clove and salt, pepper and lemon juice to taste.

Notes

Hokkaido is also called red kuri squash. Butternut squash can be used instead, but butternut squash has to be peeled before roasting.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 3 Serving Size: 1/3
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 386 Total Fat: 27g Saturated Fat: 4g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 22g Cholesterol: 6mg Sodium: 467mg Carbohydrates: 28g Fiber: 5g Sugar: 13g Protein: 13g

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.

Others you might like:

Baked Butternut Squash Parmesan Slices

Honey-Glazed Carrots with Tahini Dip

Potato Wedges with Sweet Chili Sauce