Zesty Roasted Pumpkin with Lemon Yogurt Sauce & Pine Nuts Recipe

Roasted pumpkin converts ordinary vegetables into a culinary masterpiece that delights the senses with its rich, caramelized exterior.

Warm autumn colors peek through golden-brown edges, promising a sensory experience beyond simple side dishes.

Crisp edges and tender interior create a magical contrast that elevates this seasonal favorite.

Mediterranean-inspired ingredients dance together, bringing unexpected brightness and complexity to a humble ingredient.

Tangy lemon yogurt sauce cuts through the pumpkin natural sweetness, while toasted pine nuts add delightful crunch and nutty depth.

Each forkful promises a symphony of textures and flavors that celebrate seasonal cooking.

This recipe bridges comfort and elegance with remarkable ease.

Roasted Pumpkin with Lemon Yogurt Sauce Feels Fresh and Savory

• Elevate Roasted Pumpkin: This recipe transforms humble pumpkin into a gourmet dish with minimal effort, creating restaurant-quality flavors at home.
• Texture Explosion: Crispy roasted pumpkin edges contrast beautifully with creamy lemon yogurt sauce and crunchy toasted pine nuts, delivering a multi-dimensional eating experience.
• Quick Weeknight Wonder: From prep to plate, this dish takes just 35 minutes, making it perfect for busy home cooks who want delicious, nutritious meals without spending hours in the kitchen.
• Mediterranean-Inspired Elegance: The combination of Greek yogurt, lemon, pine nuts, and optional sumac brings a sophisticated Middle Eastern touch to a simple vegetable side, elevating your everyday cooking.

Everything You’ll Need for This Sweet and Savory Pumpkin Dish

Main Ingredients:

• Pumpkin, Butternut Squash, Sweet Potato: Hearty base vegetable with sweet, rich flavor and perfect for roasting, choose firm and heavy for best quality.

Olive Oil: Helps create crispy exterior and adds rich, smooth flavor to the roasted vegetable.

• Garlic: Adds depth and aromatic warmth to the roasted vegetable.
• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings for enhancing overall taste and bringing out natural flavors.

Yogurt Sauce:

• Greek Yogurt: Creamy, tangy foundation for the sauce with rich protein content, select thick and smooth variety.
• Lemon Juice: Provides bright, citrusy acidity to balance the yogurt's richness.
• Olive Oil: Adds smooth texture and subtle fruity note to the sauce.

• Garlic: Introduces mild, pungent undertone to the yogurt sauce.
• Salt, Pepper: Crucial for balancing and enhancing sauce's flavor profile.

Garnish:

• Pine Nuts: Adds nutty crunch and delicate flavor, toasting enhances their natural richness.
• Fresh Coriander, Parsley: Brings fresh, green brightness and aromatic lift to the dish.

• Sumac, Paprika: Provides tangy or sweet-smoky accent to complete the presentation.

How to Roast Pumpkin and Top with Creamy Lemon Yogurt

Step 1: Prepare Oven and Baking Tray

Crank up the oven to a toasty 220°C/430°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.

Step 2: Chop Pumpkin

• Grab a sharp knife
• Peel the pumpkin
• Remove seeds
• Slice into chunky 3cm cubes

Step 3: Season Pumpkin Pieces

• Olive oil
• Minced garlic
• Salt
• Cracked black pepper

Step 4: Roast Pumpkin to Golden Perfection

Spread seasoned pumpkin on prepared baking tray. Roast for 20 minutes, then flip pieces. Continue roasting 7-10 minutes until edges turn golden and crispy.

Step 5: Whip Up Tangy Yogurt Sauce

• Greek yogurt
• Crushed garlic
• Fresh lemon juice
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper

Let sauce sit for 10 minutes to marry flavors.

Step 6: Toast Pine Nuts

Heat skillet over medium-high heat. Toss pine nuts, stirring constantly until lightly browned and fragrant. Remove from pan.

Step 7: Assemble and Garnish

Pile roasted pumpkin on serving plate. Drizzle with yogurt sauce. Sprinkle toasted pine nuts. Garnish with fresh coriander and a dash of sumac or paprika.

Step 8: Serve and Enjoy

Serve immediately or at room temperature. Savor the warm, crispy pumpkin with creamy, zesty sauce.

Tips for Toasting Pine Nuts and Balancing Acidity

• Master Pumpkin Selection: Choose a fresh, firm pumpkin with deep orange color and smooth skin for the best roasting results.
• Perfectly Cube Technique: Cut pumpkin pieces uniformly to ensure even roasting and consistent caramelization across all chunks.
• Enhance Flavor Depth: Add extra dried herbs like thyme or rosemary to the olive oil seasoning for a more complex taste profile.
• Prevent Soggy Roasting: Pat pumpkin pieces dry with paper towels before seasoning to help achieve crispy, golden edges during roasting.
• Toasting Pine Nut Pro-Tip: Watch pine nuts closely while toasting, as they can burn quickly; remove from heat the moment they turn light golden and release a nutty aroma.

Storing and Reheating Without Losing That Roasted Goodness

• Refrigerate: Transfer roasted pumpkin and yogurt sauce separately into airtight containers. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days to maintain freshness and prevent soggy texture.
• Reheat Pumpkin: Warm roasted pumpkin pieces in a preheated oven at 180°C/350°F for 8-10 minutes, ensuring they regain crispy edges without drying out completely.
• Sauce Tip: Keep yogurt sauce chilled and add fresh herbs just before serving to revive its vibrant flavor and prevent wilting.

What Works Well with This Mediterranean-Style Plate

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: Select a zesty, light-bodied sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio to complement the roasted pumpkin's sweetness and cut through the creamy yogurt sauce.
• Match with Herb-Infused Bread: Serve alongside a warm, rosemary-focaccia or garlic ciabatta to soak up the delicious lemon yogurt sauce and add textural contrast.
• Combine with Fresh Salad: Create a side salad with mixed greens, pomegranate seeds, and a light vinaigrette to balance the richness of the roasted pumpkin and provide a refreshing element.
• Enhance with Mediterranean Mezze: Offer small plates like hummus, olives, and feta cheese to create a complete Mediterranean-inspired dining experience that echoes the dish's flavor profile.

Recipe Twists That Add Herbs or Spice

• Mediterranean Herb Roast: Swap olive oil with herb-infused olive oil, adding rosemary, thyme, and oregano to enhance the pumpkin's earthy flavor. Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese instead of pine nuts for a Greek-inspired version.
• Spicy Moroccan Style: Replace yogurt sauce with harissa-spiked yogurt, incorporating cumin and coriander into the pumpkin seasoning. Top with za'atar spice blend and chopped mint for an aromatic North African approach.
• Vegan Maple Chili Variation: Use coconut yogurt as a base for the sauce, adding maple syrup and chili flakes. Roast pumpkin with smoked paprika and swap pine nuts with pumpkin seeds for extra crunch and plant-based protein.
• Asian-Inspired Sesame Version: Season pumpkin with soy sauce and sesame oil during roasting. Create a miso-ginger yogurt sauce, garnishing with toasted sesame seeds and chopped green onions for a vibrant east Asian profile.

Roasted Pumpkin with Lemon Yogurt Sauce and Pine Nuts Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.7 from 10 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Succulent roasted pumpkin meets tangy lemon yogurt sauce, creating Mediterranean magic on your plate. Pine nuts add perfect crunch, making this dish a delightful celebration of seasonal flavors you’ll savor with every delicious bite.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 1.2 kg (2.4 lb) pumpkin (or butternut squash or sweet potato)
• ¾ cup Greek yogurt (or plain, non-sweet yogurt)

Seasonings and Oils:

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 garlic clove, finely minced
• ½ small garlic clove, finely minced
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Garnish and Optional Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons pine nuts (or other nuts of choice)
• 2 tablespoons fresh coriander or parsley, roughly chopped
• 1/8 teaspoon sumac (or paprika, optional)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to a high temperature of 220°C/430°F, ensuring the rack is positioned in the middle for even cooking. Prepare a baking tray with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
2. Transform the pumpkin by carefully removing the outer skin and seeds, then slice into uniform 3cm cubes to ensure consistent roasting.
3. Massage the pumpkin pieces with olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and freshly ground pepper in a spacious mixing bowl, coating each piece thoroughly for maximum flavor absorption.
4. Distribute the seasoned pumpkin cubes across the lined baking tray, creating a single layer that allows each piece to caramelize evenly.
5. Roast the pumpkin for 20 minutes, then carefully flip each piece to promote uniform browning. Continue roasting for an additional 7-10 minutes until edges turn golden and crisp while maintaining the pumpkin’s structural integrity.
6. Craft the lemon yogurt sauce by whisking together Greek yogurt, crushed garlic, fresh lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a small mixing bowl.
7. Allow the sauce to rest for at least 10 minutes, enabling the ingredients to meld and intensify their collective flavor profile.
8. Toast pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium-high heat, stirring constantly to prevent burning. Remove from heat once they turn light golden and release a nutty aroma.
9. Plate the roasted pumpkin in an artistic mound on a serving dish, creating visual appeal.
10. Generously drizzle the prepared lemon yogurt sauce over the pumpkin, adding an optional light olive oil shimmer.
11. Garnish with toasted pine nuts, freshly chopped coriander, and a subtle sprinkle of sumac or paprika for a final flavor burst.
12. Present the dish hot, warm, or at room temperature, allowing guests to enjoy according to their preference.

Notes

• Prep like a pro by cubing pumpkin evenly to ensure consistent roasting and golden edges.
• Toasting pine nuts unleashes their rich, buttery flavor, transforming this simple garnish into a nutty sensation.
• Letting yogurt sauce rest allows garlic and lemon to mingle, creating a tangy, complex condiment that elevates the entire dish.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Roasting
• Cuisine: Mediterranean

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 250
• Sugar: 3g
• Sodium: 200mg
• Fat: 15g
• Saturated Fat: 2g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 27g
• Fiber: 5g
• Protein: 6g
• Cholesterol: 5mg