Spicy Roasted Pumpkin Recipes

ROASTED PUMPKIN RECIPE (SPICY WEDGES)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius/ 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Cut pumpkin: Wash and dry the Hokkaido pumpkin, you don't have to peel this sort. However, if you use butternut squash or other kinds 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 a casserole dish if you are baking them directly.
• Spice mixture: In a small bowl, mix 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.
• Marinate: 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.
• Roast for about 25-30 minutes until the wedges are as soft as you like them. You could start checking after about 20 minutes already.
• Yogurt tahini dip: Mix Greek yogurt, tahini, za'atar, grated garlic clove and salt, pepper, and lemon juice to taste.
• Serve hot with yogurt tahini dip or as a side dish.

SPICY ROASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a medium bowl, using a large spoon or your clean hands, mix the cleaned and dried pumpkin seeds, the oil, and the seasonings.
• Spread the pumpkin seeds in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Roast until golden, stirring the seeds halfway through, 15-20 minutes. Start checking after 15 minutes and watch out to make sure they don't burn - they progress from pale to brown very fast.
• Serve immediately - they are wonderful when warm!

SPICY ROAST PUMPKIN

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 200 C or 400°F.
• Quarter and then carefully peel and seed the pumpkin.
• Cut into chunky 2" cubes.
• Place pumpkin into a large & sturdy roasting tray.
• Add the olive oil, salt, pepper & cumin - mix well, making sure that all the pumpkin pieces are coated in olive oil.
• Bake in the oven for about 30 to 45 minutes or until the pumpkin is soft & also tinged brown at the edges.
• Serve with a main meal as the vegetable dish OR freeze for future savoury pumpkin recipes. I also make soup from this - as well as pasta dishes too - recipes to be posted for those!

SPICY PUMPKIN SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Cut the pumpkin in half and remove the seeds with a spoon (see tip below). Cut into wedges or chunks (keep the skin on) and tip into a bowl. Put the garam masala, and 1 tsp each of the coriander and cumin into a small bowl and mix with 2 tbsp of the oil and season. Drizzle over the pumpkin and toss well to coat in the spiced oil. Transfer to a baking tray, spread out evenly and roast for 40-45 mins, turning halfway through cooking, until the pumpkin is very soft when pierced with a fork. Leave to cool on the tray for a few minutes.
• Heat the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil in a large saucepan and fry the onion with a pinch of salt for 10 mins until soft. Add the ginger, garlic and remaining spices and chilli flakes, and fry for a few more minutes until fragrant. Pour in the stock and bring to a gentle simmer.
• When the pumpkin is cool enough to touch, use a spoon to scoop the soft flesh from the skins. Add the soft pumpkin to the stock pan, discarding the skins. Remove from the heat and blitz the soup with a hand blender until creamy and smooth. Season to taste, adding extra chilli or garam masala if you like. Put back over a low heat and stir in the cream. Bring to a gentle simmer, then serve in bowls with a drizzle more cream and a pinch of chilli to serve. Top with toasted pumpkin seeds, if you like.