Air Fryer Roasted Sweet Pumpkin
Simple & Healthy! Deliciously Sweet and Nutty Roasted Sweet Pumpkin with Nuts using an Air Fryer
This is a healthy snack: roasted sweet pumpkin made in an air fryer. It’s even more delicious with honey and nuts! Enjoy a guilt-free treat that’s naturally sweet and satisfyingly nutty.
Sweet Pumpkin Preparation- 1/2 small sweet pumpkin
- 2 Tbsp baking soda
Main Ingredients- Olive oil, as needed
- Honey, as needed
- Olive oil, as needed
- Honey, as needed
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s thoroughly clean the sweet pumpkin. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of baking soda over the surface of the pumpkin. Then, use your hands to scrub the peel firmly. Baking soda acts as a natural cleaner, effectively removing dirt and residues from the skin.
Step 2
After scrubbing with baking soda, place the sweet pumpkin in cold water and wash it until you hear a ‘squeaky’ clean sound. This step ensures all impurities are completely removed from the pumpkin’s surface.
Step 3
Rinse the sweet pumpkin multiple times under running water to ensure no baking soda residue remains. Thorough cleaning is crucial for bringing out the fresh, natural flavor of the pumpkin.
Step 4
Pat the cleaned sweet pumpkin dry with a paper towel. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and microwave for about 3 minutes. This pre-cooking step softens the pumpkin slightly, making it easier to cut and reducing the roasting time.
Step 5
Once removed from the microwave, carefully use a knife to trim off the stem part and the slightly protruding ‘belly button’ at the bottom, creating a neat shape.
Step 6
Cut the sweet pumpkin in half lengthwise. Then, use a spoon to scoop out and remove all the seeds and stringy bits from the inside. Removing the seeds cleanly will result in a more refined texture after roasting.
Step 7
Take one of the halved pumpkin pieces and cut it in half again, creating two pieces. Then, cut each of those pieces in half one more time, resulting in a total of four wedges per half, or eight wedges in total.
Step 8
Finally, cut each of the four wedges in half horizontally. This will give you a total of 8 manageable pieces of sweet pumpkin. These bite-sized pieces are perfect for roasting and serving.
Step 9
Arrange the 8 pumpkin pieces in the air fryer basket, making sure they don’t overlap too much. Lightly brush or spray them with olive oil. This will help them become tender and flavorful as they roast.
Step 10
Preheat your air fryer to 175°C (350°F). Place the prepared pumpkin pieces in the basket and air fry for approximately 9-10 minutes. The exact time may vary depending on the size of your pumpkin pieces and your air fryer model. Check for a slightly golden-brown exterior and a tender interior.
Step 11
Once the pumpkin is roasted, generously sprinkle your chosen nuts (like almonds, walnuts, cashews) over the warm pieces. Add raisins as well. Then, drizzle honey over the pumpkin pieces using a teaspoon to your desired sweetness. The honey will caramelize slightly, enhancing the natural sweetness of the pumpkin and the nuttiness.
Step 12
For the final touch, lightly dust the roasted sweet pumpkin with ground cinnamon. The aromatic spice adds a wonderful depth of flavor. Your delicious, nutty, and perfectly sweet roasted sweet pumpkin is now ready! Enjoy it warm for the best experience.
