This delicious seasonal treat will give you pumpkin to talk about! Roast Pumpkin with Feta and Honey is a healthy and tasty treat that can be made with fresh local ingredients. Read on for more information on the benefits of this gourd-geous dish!

Pumpkins are highly nutritious and may boost your immune system, protect your eyesight, lower your risk of certain cancers and promote heart and skin health.

Honey is rich in antioxidants and organic acids that can reduce the risk of heart attacks and stroke, lower blood pressure and triglycerides, and improve cholesterol. Honey is a better sweetener than sugar for diabetics and can also promote eye health.

Olive oil contains healthy fats and antioxidants which may reduce the risk of chronic diseases, fight inflammation, and promote heart health. Olive oil may also lower the risk of stroke and type 2 diabetes.

Balsamic vinegar is great for healthy digestion, helps to lower cholesterol, improves blood circulation, and is good for healthy skin. It is also diabetes-friendly and can help prevent blood sugar spikes.

Food produced locally is more nutritious. This is because food contains the most nutrients around the time it is harvested. The longer food spends traveling, the less nutrition it contains. Less time traveling also means less exposure to harmful chemicals and less production of greenhouse gasses. What a tasteful way to decrease our carbon footprint!

Find ingredients for Roast Pumpkin with Feta and Honey and more at Anderson’s Farm Market, The Local Food Market, or through a CSA share at Main Street Farms. Also be sure to stop by the Cortland and Homer Farmers Markets and Shared Roots Farm to see what nutritious and delicious foods are available this season. Check out the healthy and delicious recipe for Roast Pumpkin with Feta and Honey below.

Roast Pumpkin with Feta and Honey

Ingredients:

1 butternut pumpkin or squash (about 600g or 1.3lbs)
3 tablespoons oil (I used a herb oil but regular olive oil will do)
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
3 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
50g/1.7 ozs feta cheese, crumbled
1/2 teaspoon chilli flakes
salt and pepper to season

Directions:

Step 1: Preheat oven to 210C/410F. Line a baking tray with baking parchment. Peel the pumpkin and cut into bite sized cubes. Remove the seeds.

Step 2: Toss the pumpkin cubes in the oil and bake for 20 minutes.

Step 3: Remove from the oven and toss with sesame seeds. Put back in oven for 10 minutes and roast.

Step 4: Drizzle with honey, balsamic vinegar, feta and chilli flakes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot or cold.

#MondayMeals: Pumpkin to Talk About