Roasted Pumpkin with Herbs and Spices Recipe
A simple and flavorful recipe for oven-roasted pumpkin wedges seasoned with herbs and spices, perfect as a warm side dish or served at room temperature with optional goat or feta cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- ½ medium pumpkin, cut into thick wedges
- 3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- Black pepper, freshly ground if possible, to taste
- Dash of cayenne pepper or hot/smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons fresh herbs (thyme, oregano, or sage) or 2 teaspoons dried herbs
- Pinch of ground cinnamon (optional)
For Serving (Optional)
- Goat cheese or feta cheese, crumbled
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350ºF (180ºC) to get it ready for roasting the pumpkin wedges.
- Prepare the pumpkin wedges: Cut the pumpkin in half, then each half into thick wedges. Be mindful that you may need to roast in batches if the wedges don’t fit all at once on the tray.
- Arrange on baking tray: Lay the pumpkin wedges cut side up on a baking sheet, ensuring they have enough space for even roasting.
- Season the pumpkin: Drizzle the wedges generously with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt, freshly ground black pepper, a dash of cayenne or paprika, ground cinnamon if using, and your choice of fresh or dried herbs for aromatic flavor.
- Bake in stages: Roast the pumpkin in the oven for 15 minutes, then turn the wedges onto their sides. Bake for an additional 15 minutes, then flip to the other side and roast for another 15 minutes or until the wedges are beautifully golden and tender.
- Serve: Transfer the roasted pumpkin to a serving platter. Optionally scatter crumbled goat or feta cheese over the top and drizzle a bit more olive oil before serving. The pumpkin is equally delicious served warm or at room temperature without cheese.
Notes
- You can substitute olive oil with other oils like avocado or grapeseed oil if preferred.
- Adjust seasoning to your taste, especially the salt and cayenne for heat level.
- This recipe works well with fresh herbs but dried herbs offer convenience and longer shelf life.
- Roasting in batches might be necessary depending on oven size and pumpkin quantity.