Saturday 11 January 2014

Roasted Maple and Bacon Pumpkin


When I saw Gertrude Wan Patane's dish, I immediately jumped at the idea of using pumpkins. Her Roasted Maple and Bacon Butternut Squash looked like something that would be great to serve during a dinner party. And that was exactly what I did recently.


The fact that it has bacon in it really got me going :) One ingredient in this dish which I have heard of but never tasted before is maple syrup. I have been curious about maple syrup and wondered what is so special about this iconic Canadian product. 


So when I saw a bottle of organic maple syrup at Aeon (it cost me a princely RM34.90 for a 236ml bottle, ouch!) I put it into my basket without a second thought. When I got home, I decided to have a taste. I find the syrup quite runny and of course it was sweet. But I did not find anything significant about it's taste but then again maybe my palate is not sophisticated enough. From what I read, maple syrup contains fewer calories and a higher concentration of minerals than honey. You can read more about the health benefits here.


I also bought another wedge of pumpkin to add to the one that has been in my fridge for two weeks. Back home I cleaned the pumpkins making sure I washed the skin thoroughly as I wasn't going to sweat peeling the skin. I cut the pumpkins into cubes. I also cut a Bombay onions into cubes and tossed the onions and pumpkin cubes with olive oil, salt and pepper. Then I spread this mixture onto a lined baking tray and baked at 180C.


Meanwhile, I cut 6 strips of streaky bacon into cubes and fried them till brown and crispy. The smell was really good. I removed the crispy bacon and drained them on paper towels. I did not throw away the bacon drippings but instead, drizzled the oil onto the pumpkins for added flavor.


After that, I mixed maple syrup, cinnamon powder and Hungarian paprika (because I did not have cayenne pepper). The taste at that point was not remarkable. When the pumpkins were almost done, I drizzled the mixture onto the pumpkins and tossed them to combine. I continued to roast the pumpkins until they were tender and browned around the edges.


When the pumpkins were done, I tossed in the bacon and some chopped parsley and gave it a good mix. And that's it. Just dish out into a serving dish and I warmed it up just before serving. I had to rely on my mum's feedback because my tastebuds go numb when I am cooking for a dinner party. Mum said that it was good and the dish was very well received. 

Many thanks, Gertrude for this lovely recipe! I am reproducing the recipe here in my own words for future reference (yes! going to cook it again) and please visit Gertrude for the original recipe. If you don't have maple syrup, I reckon honey would be a good substitute. It was about a week later that I had another taste of the maple syrup. Ah! This time it registered. I love it but alas I can't describe it :)


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I will be on a break next week and will update my posts again when I am back.  See ya!
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Roasted Maple and Bacon Pumpkin
Recipe source : Adapted from My Kitchen Snippets

Ingredients :
- 1.2kg pumpkin, cut into cubes (I left the skin on out of pure laziness)
- 1 big Bombay onion, cut into cubes
- 5 tablespoons olive oil or enough to coat pumpkin and onions
- 3 tbsp maple syrup (or honey)
- 1/2 tsp Hungarian paprika
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder
- salt and black pepper to taste
- a handlful of parsley, chopped
- 6 strips of bacon, cut into cubes and fried till crispy

Method :
1. Preheat oven to 180C.
2. In a mixing bowl add pumpkin, onions, salt, pepper and olive oil. Toss to coat evenly.
3. Pour the mixture onto a lined baking tray and bake for 45-50 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, mix maple syrup, paprika and cinnamon powder.
5. When the pumpkin is almost tender, drizzle the syrup mixture and toss to coat. Continue to bake until pumpkin is tender and brown around the edges.
6. Remove the baking tray from the oven and sprinkle the crispy bacon and parsley. Toss to coat and serve immediately or if serving later, warm up before serving.

Note : If you like, drizzle the bacon drippings onto the pumpkin before baking.

32 comments:

  1. Oh god. This looks so good. I'll substitute the bacon with those breakfast strips.

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    1. Hi Hanis! Yes, breakfast strips make a good substitute!

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  2. Ooooo...bacon is my weakness! Slurpsss!!!!

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    1. My weakness too! Love it with eggs and baked beans, yums!

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  3. Hehe now you can make pancakes American-style, served with bacon and maple syrup too!:D

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  4. Oooh this looks so delicious, bacon drippings are so sinful but they bring the taste to a whole new level!

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    1. Jasline, everything tastes good with bacon!

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  5. Hi Phong Hong, looking at the fried bacon helps to bring back my appetite for food. Looks delicious - savoury bacon and sweet pumpkin ah ha......

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    1. Kimmy, bacon just enhances everything that it is added to. I love it with salads too, so sinful!

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  6. Hi Phong Hong, I love your dish. Bacon, pumpkin and maple syrup are my favourite! I can definitely polish everything if you pass me this dish :)
    Have a good break and enjoy!

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    1. Hi Ann, thanks! This dish is sweet and salty and I can just eat it on its own :)

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  7. Yum... This looks delicious! My sister just became a vegetarian, so she won't want to eat this. Oh well, more for me!

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    1. Hi Cathleen! Just leave out the bacon for your sis. Or add tempeh bacon. I hear that it is good.

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  8. yum-yum l always love pumpkin this dish of yours look so delicious must give it a try

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  9. Hi PH, this dish looks so delicious. I have bookmarked this and will defintely try it soon. Tks for sharing.

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    1. Do try it, Cecilia! You will have more than one helping I am sure!

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  10. Break next week? Mkg CNY cookies ka? Goreng arrowhead? He he he. ...mau makan

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    1. Hah! Hah! I saw so much arrowhead at the supermarket but got no energy to fry it :)

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  11. Hi Phong Hong,
    I have never tasted the real pure maple syrup! It is too expensive and I am a little stingy! So I always substitute with honey!
    This dish looks delicious. I love pumpkin. And bacon always makes a dish extra yum! Thanks for sharing!
    Enjoy your break!

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    1. Hi Joyce! Quite honestly, I won't rush and buy anymore maple syrup after I finish this batch. Though it has that distinctive taste, my tastebud is not quite Canadian. Hee..hee...

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  12. Hi Phong Hong, why is it when I open your blog...I smell the aroma of all your amazing dishes you make?...like, right now...the sizzling of the aroma of your bacon...yumm! The pumpkin and the maple syrup is always a wonder pairing, and roasting it makes it so perfect. The paprika and cinnamon powder...heavenly! Thanks for sharing, dear friend (must try) xo

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    1. Oh, Elisabeth! You have an active imagination! But seriously, this is a good dish. The bacon has a lot to do with it hee..hee..

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  13. When I saw the word maple, I thought you were using maple leaves, haha..
    Oohh, maple syrup, I only tried it before in hotels during the buffet breakfast, at the pancake section..
    At home, I just have normal honey (for drinking and to go with pancakes)..

    Wah, when I saw your bacon and that oil, already thought of carbonarra already. Yumm, look at that oil (you must be thinking I am crazy), I love the oil.. I can just scoop up that oil, and eat with my white rice !!

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    1. Louiz, I love the oil too! Very nice when added to salad dressing. It really enhance the taste of whatever it is added to!

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  14. wow what a wonderful way to cook pumpkin! As usual, you amaze me with your creative dishes.

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    1. Mich, thanks to Gertrude I have this yummy dish!

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  15. Hi Phong Hong, I'm not a fan of pumpkin except for pumpkin custard dessert. The bacon is neither my favorite too... so I just look see,look see only. Nice click!

    Have a nice day.

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    1. Aiyah....Amelia, how could you not like pumpkin and bacon! Never mind, more for me :)

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  16. YUM! This not only looks good but sounds yummy too . I bet my sons will like this dish coz ada bacon ! Bacon their all time favorite ! LOL

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    1. Kit, hope that your boys like pumpkin too!

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