Pumpkin Cubes: A Delicious Side Dish at Thanksgiving or Anytime

Pumpkin is often overlooked as a vegetable but it is nutrient-rich, high in vitamin A and beta-carotene, and low calorie. Roast pumpkin cubes make a great addition to any autumn or winter meal.

Of all the winter squashes out there, pumpkin is my favorite. Slightly sweeter than most winter squash, freshly roasted pumpkin cubes are full of flavor. And their vivid orange color brightens up any plate.

For those who haven’t tried it, I would compare the taste to either a butternut or acorn squash. And like those two, roasting brings out the maximum sweetness and flavor.

We generally serve it as our vegetable, but it can also be used as a starch substitute, especially if you are on a low-carb diet (just watch your quantity).

However, there are plenty of ways to serve pumpkin, and we use it in a variety of recipes. But today, we are talking about it as a side dish.

We have already shared our mashed recipe (which looks like orange mashed potatoes). With those, we tend to add fragrant spices. In contrast, roasted pumpkin cubes stand on their own.

Best of all, pumpkin is naturally gluten-free, vegan, and easy to prepare. As a bonus, the uncooked pumpkin always reminds me of growing up in the States.

Our roasted pumpkin cubes tick all of the boxes

• Gluten-free
• Vegan (so dairy-free)
• Paleo-friendly
• Keto-friendly (if you watch your portion size)
• Easy to make

Health benefits of the main ingredients

Disclaimer: Statements regarding health benefits are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition.

With only two main ingredients, it’s easy to see the benefits of roasted pumpkin cubes.

Pumpkin

Low in calories, pumpkin is rich in vitamins A and C, beta carotene, potassium, fiber, and antioxidants. According to Healthline, it may protect eyesight, boost immunity, lower cancer risk, and promote healthy skin. 

Olive oil

Also, according to Healthline, olive oil is loaded with benefits as it is high in monosaturated fats and antioxidants. In addition, it has anti-inflammatory properties, is not associated with weight gain, and may even help fight Alzheimer’s disease.

What you need to roast pumpkin cubes

• Pumpkin
• Olive oil
• Salt and Pepper

Step by step to our pumpkin cubes recipe

Here’s another recipe that is surprisingly easy. The most difficult part is initially cutting the pumpkin in half, and we made that super easy for you with an illustrated step-by-step process.

Once in half, you want to cut off the section you will use for the meal. We typically make about a one-pound segment. This will produce about 3 cups of pumpkin, a nice side dish for 3 people. Increase to about 1.3 pounds of pumpkin for four people (make about ⅓ pound per person).

Peel the section, and then cut it into cubes of about 1″. As you can see from our images, this is not a precise measure. The key is to try to keep the pieces at a similar size to each other, so they all cook at the same time.

Place the pumpkin cubes in a 9″ x 13″ glass baking tray and fully coat with oil. You can do this by brushing it on. Or, if you are one of those chefs who like to use your hands, go ahead and massage it in.

Sprinkle on a bit of salt and pepper and then bake at 400°F (200°C) for 45 minutes. About halfway through, you will want to turn the pumpkin.

That’s it, just serve alongside your favorite fish, chicken, or meat dish.

To get crispier outside, cook in a fan-forced oven.

Our roasted pumpkin cubes recipe

This recipe was contributed by Jeff Albom

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Will you add roasted pumpkin cubes to your dinner menu plan?

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