A delicious, easy velvet-textured dish of pumpkin with sage is the perfect side at your Thanksgiving table or any time.
![Photo of a spiced and herbed pumpkin side dish.](https://holycowvegan.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/herbed-pumpkin-1.jpg)
Here's an easy but sumptuous recipe that's perfect for the incredible winter we've been enjoying/enduring in the northeast. Velvety Herbed Pumpkin.
Right now our roof is balancing more than two feet of snow from three snowstorms that have made this the snowiest winter recorded in Washington history. Desi's spent about half of the last week shoveling snow, and there's more that's collecting right now and will have to be taken care of tomorrow. And as I write this, I can't help but worry just a little about how on earth am I going to get to work tomorrow when Metro has canceled most services and my car is buried out of sight?
But all the work and stresses seem trivial when you look outside the window at a world cloaked in incandescent white. Trees hang low, their branches delicately balancing neat, inches-deep fingers of snow. The sidewalks, streets and winter-brown lawns roll together into an unending stretch of pure white, marked, perhaps, by the long, parallel tracks of a cross-country skier delighted that the ski resort has landed at their doorstep. Occasionally, lightening sends an unusually deep-blue flash lancing across the bright night sky.
Yes, it's hard to be angry at the snow. Certainly not when it gives you the chance to stay indoors and cook up delicious food.
During the winter months, I usually have some hard-skinned squash sitting in my kitchen. Squashes are perfect food for the cold weather (have you tried this vegan pumpkin spinach lasagna? Yum) because not only are they seasonal but they also infuse into your body-- susceptible to colds and flus in these months-- generous quantities of vitamin C. And as that bright, exquisitely orange color signifies, winter squashes are super rich in Vitamin A which is great for your vision and a potent cancer fighter.
Squashes have a rich flavor of their own, so they don't need too much accessorizing. In this recipe, some garlic, onions and herbs complement the pumpkin's sweetness beautifully while not overpowering it.
So here's my recipe, then, based loosely on a recipe for Trinidadian Pumpkin from World Vegetarian. It's a super-versatile recipe and you can easily use another winter squash like butternut, if you prefer, or different herbs. I'd go with a spicy herb, like thyme, oregano, rosemary or sage (which I used), rather than a sweet one like basil or mint.
More vegan winter squash recipes
- Vegan Butternut Squash Risotto
- Savory Vegan Corn Pudding
- Easy Vegan Butternut Squash Gratin
- Vegan Pumpkin Bread Pudding
- Vegan Butternut Squash Pasta Bake
Velvety Herbed Pumpkin
Ingredients
- 3 cups pumpkin (cut in ½ inch cubes)
- 1 medium onion (finely chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 green chili peppers (like serrano or jalapeno, finely chopped. Use less if you like less heat, or take out the seeds and ribs)
- 7-8 sage leaves (sage is a powerful herb, so use less if that's your preference)
- 2 tablespoon cilantro (finely chopped. Can use mint instead)
- 2 teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or any neutral oil
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a saucepan. Add the onions and stir-fry until they just start to brown.
- Add the garlic, chili peppers, sage and cilantro and stir for a few seconds. Now add the pumpkin cubes.
- Add ¼ cup of water or vegetable stock and when the water begins to simmer, turn the heat to low, cover the saucepan, and let the pumpkin cook, stirring occasionally, for about 45 minutes or until it is buttery-soft and tender. Mash some of the pumpkins, if you like, for more texture.
- Add salt and sugar and turn off the heat. Serve hot with rotis or as a side dish with rice and a spicy curry.
Trinity (of haiku tofu)
Wow that looks fantastic! I love pumpkin so much.
Susan
That looks fantastic, Vaishali - irresistibly warm against the backdrop of a frozen white-on-white capitol.
Supriya Nair
Nicely made Vaishali...the color is so tempting..lovely click!
Parita
i love pumpkin curries, looks very very delicious!
Rachana Kothari
Wow!!! the herbed pumpkin looks so yumm, I love the colour:)
You've got a lovely blog and great recipes...
Pat
Hi Vaishali! Here on the west coast of Canada we had a similar Christmas last year, when I visited my son for a week and he had to shovel snow every day of my visit. This year has been just rain, but soooo much!
The pumpkin dish looks mouthwatering. Can't wait to try it.
Dibs
hi vaishali. long time since i visited my fav blogs...busy with my little baby daugther! lots to catch up on your blog! the pumkin looks very appetizing! yum!
enjoy the velvety white magic,outside ur window as well!
Pavithra
wow looks so good , so healthy and as u said so velvety...
Priya
Tempting herbed pumpkin, looks colourful and sage leaves sounds interesting..
Gita
I hope you worked from home today Vaishali...the roads have not yet been cleared even in Maryland and DC..even my huuby had a hard time shoveling the snow just around the car, he struggled for an hour and then came back to work from home. I hope it should be ok by tomorrow 🙂 Nice colorful pumpkin dish, adding sage leaves sounds interesting, the dish must have been very aromatic!