Air Fryer Recipe
Spicy Roasted Butternut Squash Rings
Butternut squash becomes wonderfully sweet and fudgy when roasted, and an air fryer is perfect for achieving this texture. The compact convection of the air fryer helps the spice paste cling and caramelise, creating a deliciously spiced exterior before the squash softens.
Ingredients
- 1 medium butternut squash, about 850g whole, giving roughly 600g prepared rings
- 1 ½ tbsp rapeseed oil or light olive oil
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ¾ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp chilli flakes, or 1 tsp Aleppo pepper
- ½ tsp ground coriander
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper, optional
- ¾ tsp fine sea salt
- ½ tsp soft light brown sugar or maple syrup
- 1 tsp cornflour
- 1 small garlic clove, finely grated, or ½ tsp garlic granules
- 1 tsp lemon juice, plus extra wedges to serve
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh coriander or flat-leaf parsley, to finish
- 2 tbsp Greek yoghurt, coconut yoghurt or tahini sauce, optional for serving
Method
- Trim the top and bottom from the squash, peel it thoroughly, then cut it crosswise into 1.5cm thick slices.
- Scoop seeds and fibres from the bulb-end slices, and use a small cutter to make holes in the solid neck slices if desired.
- Put the rings in a large bowl and pat them dry with kitchen paper.
- In a small bowl, mix the oil, smoked paprika, cumin, chilli flakes, ground coriander, cayenne if using, salt, sugar, cornflour, garlic and lemon juice to make a loose paste.
- Rub the spice paste over the squash rings, ensuring all edges are coated.
- Let the coated squash sit for 5 minutes while the air fryer preheats to 190°C.
- Arrange the rings in the basket in a mostly single layer.
- Air fry at 190°C for 10 minutes, then turn the rings with tongs.
- Cook for a further 6–9 minutes, until tender and browned in patches.
- For a darker finish, raise the temperature to 200°C for the final 2 minutes, watching closely.
- Transfer to a warm plate, squeeze over a little lemon juice, and scatter with coriander or parsley.
- Serve with yoghurt, coconut yoghurt or tahini sauce if desired.
Nutrition
Calories: 250
