The first real chill of autumn always feels like a gentle turning of the page. The air is cooler, dusk arrives earlier, and the garden begins to offer up its final treasures of the year. This season, my greatest joy has been harvesting the Crown Prince pumpkins I’ve nurtured through the summer. With their soft blue-grey skins and rich orange flesh, they feel like autumn’s crown jewels.
There’s a simple pleasure in preparing them — slicing the pumpkins into generous wedges, laying them out on a tray, and drizzling them with Citizens of Soil organic olive oil. I scatter a pinch of sea salt, a few sprigs of thyme, and a sprinkle of JD’s fiery chilli flakes before sliding them into a hot oven. At 200°C, half an hour of roasting (with a turn halfway through) transforms them into golden, caramelised delights — sweet, savoury, and utterly irresistible.
The result is a dish that feels like the very essence of autumn: comforting yet vibrant, wholesome yet indulgent. Perfect on its own, or as a side to almost anything, these roasted wedges remind me that the best seasonal food is often the simplest — grown with care, elevated by just a few consciously chosen ingredients.
As the nights draw in and the winds grow colder, I’ll be enjoying every last bite of these pumpkins — a celebration of autumn’s bounty, of mindful cooking, and of the joy of slowing down to savour what nature gives us.
✨ Shop Citizens of Soil olive oil and JD’s Chilli Flakes, alongside more autumn kitchen essentials, at pangolins.co.uk/collections/kitchenware.
🌿 Recipe Card: Roasted Crown Prince Pumpkin
Ingredients
- 1 Crown Prince pumpkin, cut into wedges
- 2–3 tbsp Citizens of Soil organic olive oil
- A few sprigs of fresh thyme
- Sea salt, to taste
- JD’s Chilli Flakes, to taste
Method
- Preheat the oven to 200°C.
- Arrange the pumpkin wedges on a baking tray.
- Drizzle generously with Citizens of Soil olive oil.
- Sprinkle with salt, thyme leaves, and JD’s chilli flakes.
- Roast for 30 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden and caramelised.
- Serve warm and enjoy the taste of autumn. 🍂
Crown Prince pumpkins are a powerhouse of immune-boosting vitamins, digestion-supporting fibre, heart-friendly minerals, and protective antioxidants — all wrapped up in a vegetable that tastes incredible roasted, souped, or mashed.
