The recipe for roasted pumpkin in an air fryer is a simple and healthy way to enhance the pumpkin, the undisputed star of the autumn season. For this preparation, I chose the Delica pumpkin, with its sweet and firm flesh, but you can also use the Mantovana pumpkin or the Hokkaido pumpkin, as in the recipe for Hokkaido pumpkin oven roasted. After slicing it into not-too-thin slices, I seasoned it with extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, and a pinch of smoked paprika, which gives a delicately spicy aroma.
Cooking in the air fryer allows you to obtain a roasted pumpkin that is golden and caramelized, with an intense but light flavor. In the last few minutes, a brush of maple syrup (optional, but highly appreciated) enhances its natural sweetness and gives it a glossy and inviting surface. You will get a pumpkin-based side dish that is versatile, ideal with meat, eggs, or legumes, or as an autumn appetizer.
If you like pumpkin recipes, you can also try pumpkin and potatoes in the air fryer or crispy pumpkin nests in the oven. And for those who like to experiment with air frying in all seasons, there’s also the collection of air fryer vegetables: simple and light ideas for every occasion!
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- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very cheap
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 4People
- Cooking methods: Air frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Fall, Winter
- Energy 98.11 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 14.43 (g) of which sugars 6.29 (g)
- Proteins 2.14 (g)
- Fat 4.97 (g) of which saturated 0.77 (g)of which unsaturated 0.04 (g)
- Fibers 1.34 (g)
- Sodium 100.21 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 125 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for the roasted pumpkin in air fryer
- 28.2 oz Delica pumpkin (net of skin and seeds)
- 2 tbsps extra virgin olive oil (approximately)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 sprig rosemary
- 1 pinch salt
- to taste pepper
- 1 tsp maple syrup (optional)
Tools
- 1 Cutting board
- 1 Knife
- 1 Air fryer
- Air fryer paper
- 1 Oil sprayer
How to cook roasted pumpkin in an air fryer
To prepare the roasted pumpkin in the air fryer, start by cleaning the pumpkin: cut it into not-too-thin slices (about 3/4-1 inch) and remove seeds and skin (1). If washed carefully, the skin can also be left on because it is edible, but I prefer to remove it. Line the basket of the air fryer with the special paper and place the pumpkin slices in a single layer (2).
Lightly spray them with a little extra virgin olive oil (3). If you don’t have an oil sprayer, you can distribute it with a kitchen brush. Season them with a pinch of salt, a grind of pepper, and a little smoked paprika (4).
Cook the pumpkin in the air fryer at 375°F for 10 minutes, then take out the basket and turn the pumpkin slices to the other side (5). Season them on the other side too with a spray of oil, salt, pepper, and paprika (6).
Put the basket back in the air fryer and continue cooking for 7-8 minutes. Then, if you wish, take them out of the fryer again and brush them with a teaspoon of maple syrup (7). Put them back inside and continue cooking for a couple of minutes, just until the surface caramelizes (8).
This step is not essential, but the maple syrup, besides giving a beautiful golden color to the pumpkin, enhances its natural sweetness. Once cooked, garnish the pumpkin with some freshly chopped rosemary (better not to use it during cooking, as it burns easily in an air fryer). Serve the roasted pumpkin at room temperature, as an appetizer or side dish.
Storage
You can store the roasted pumpkin in the refrigerator for 2 or 3 days.
Tips and Variations
As mentioned, for this recipe I chose the Delica pumpkin, which has a firm and low-moisture flesh. Instead, you can use other varieties of pumpkins with similar characteristics: the Mantovana pumpkin, the Hokkaido pumpkin, or the chestnut pumpkin.
Instead of maple syrup, you can use honey.
Cooking times can vary by a few minutes depending on the thickness of the pumpkin slices, so after 15 minutes, check it from time to time and adjust accordingly.
