Sweet crispy butternut pumpkin air fried
Butternut pumpkin has a sweet and nutty flavor that melts in your mouth. This makes it a versatile side dish that can be paired with just about any main dish. It’s also so simple to cook and does not require a lot of condiments to make it delicious.
Other than its flavorful taste, it is a healthy alternative as it’s a good source of vitamins and minerals while being low in carbs.
The quickest and easiest way to cook it is in an air fryer. Air Fried butternut pumpkin is cooked evenly while giving it a crispy outer layer and a moist soft center. I found that the cooking time is also less than an oven so it really helps on a busy work day.
Things to note:
Air Fryer: Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the butternut pumpkin in batches.
The slices of butternut pumpkin need to be placed in the air fryer basket in a single layer with a small gap between then so that the edges can be crispy as well. This means, for smaller air fryers, you may not be able to fit many slices in at one go.
You can also cut the slices in half to accommodate the spacing and shape of the air fryer basket.
Type of butternut: In this recipe I used butternut pumpkin however you may use butternut squash as well. The main thing is to make sure that the slices are 1 centimeter (0.39 inch).
Cutting method: The easiest way to cut the butternut pumpkin is to cut it in half. Then put the flat side on the chopping board and peel the skin off. Proceed to remove the pips in the center using a small teaspoon to scoop it out. Finally, place the butternut pumpkin on its side laying on the chopping board and cut 1-centimeter (0.39 inch) slices.
However, if you are pressed for time, you can try using pre-cut butternut pumpkin from the supermarkets. Just be mindful that the cut needs to be around 1 centimeter (0.39 inch) thick.
Crispness: You can opt to add maple so that it will caramelize the outer layer giving an increased level of sweetness.
Serving Suggestions:
- Juicy air fried chicken wrapped in turkey bacon.
- Crispy crumbed salmon is complemented by the butternut pumpkin’s sweet taste.
- Grilled tender lamb fillet matched with butternut pumpkin will give your dish a sweet and savory taste.
- Try swapping the carbs for butternut pumpkin slices with your succulent pork back ribs which can be made in the air fryer too.
- Air fried sweet chilli drumsticks are just as nice with some stir fried rice.
- These will make a great side dish for your holiday ham or turkey as well as roast chicken and roast pork.
- They can be served on their own with raw pumpkin seeds, cheese, or granola to give them more textures.
- You can serve your leafy green salad topped with butternut pumpkin (cut them into smaller cubes to make them bite size).
Quick and Simple Air Fried Butternut Pumpkin
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Large mixing bowl
- Non-stick frying spatula
Ingredients
- 1 small Butternut pumpkin or 1/2 a medium butternut pumpkin
- 2 teaspoon Salt
- 2 teaspoon Black pepper
- 5 cloves Garlic (diced)
- 2 teaspoon Olive oil
Instructions
- Peel the butternut pumpkin and cut it into round 1-centimeter (0.39 inch) slices. Refer to the cutting method above on how to peel and cut the butternut pumpkin.
- Place the butternut pumpkin slices and all the seasoning ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Mix all the ingredients together and leave to marinade for 15 minutes.
- Spray the air fryer basket with oil or use parchment paper.
- Place butternut pumpkin slices in single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Set the temperature to 175 degrees Celsius (347 degrees Fahrenheit) for 15 minutes.
- Use a non-stick frying spatula to flip to the butternut pumpkin slices and set the temperature to 175 degrees Celsius (347 degrees Fahrenheit) for 10 minutes.
- Once the cooking is done, lift the butternut pumpkin slices out of the air fryer with a non-stick frying spatula and serve with your main meal. Refer to our serving suggestions for ideas on main meals.
