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Thick wedges of roasted pumpkin baked with herbs and spices, showcasing the natural sweetness and flavor of pumpkin. A simple, tasty side dish perfect for autumn meals and holiday feasts.

Ingredients

Scale
  • ½ medium pumpkin, cut into thick wedges
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil (can substitute with sunflower oil, coconut oil, melted butter, ghee)
  • ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Dash of cayenne pepper (or substitute with hot or smoked paprika)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh herbs or 2 teaspoons dried herbs (such as thyme, oregano, or sage)
  • Pinch of ground cinnamon (optional)
  • For serving: crumbled goat cheese or feta cheese (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
  2. Cut the pumpkin in half and slice each half into thick wedges; roast in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding.
  3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
  4. Arrange pumpkin wedges on the baking sheet cut side up, spacing them apart.
  5. Drizzle the olive oil over the wedges.
  6. Season with salt, freshly ground black pepper, cayenne pepper (or paprika), optional cinnamon, and fresh or dried herbs.
  7. Bake for 15 minutes.
  8. Carefully flip each wedge onto its side and bake for another 15 minutes.
  9. Turn the wedges over again and roast for a final 15 minutes until tender and golden with caramelized edges.
  10. Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving.
  11. Optional: sprinkle with crumbled goat or feta cheese and drizzle with a little extra olive oil before serving.

Notes

Ensure ingredients and tools are ready before starting to save time., Oven temperatures vary; monitor the pumpkin to prevent burning and adjust cook time as needed., Use medium to large thick wedges for best results since pumpkin shrinks when roasted., Herb options include thyme, oregano, sage, or rosemary in small amounts., Customize spices with cayenne, smoked paprika, cinnamon, or nutmeg for heat or sweetness., Roast larger pumpkins longer, smaller pumpkins less, to maintain tenderness., Pumpkin wedges can be cubed for shorter roasting times., For more richness, substitute olive oil with butter, ghee, or sunflower oil., To add sweetness, brush with maple syrup or sprinkle brown sugar before baking., Pumpkin seeds can be roasted separately and stored for up to two weeks.

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