Calabaza en Tacha (Candied Pumpkin)
Pumpkin pieces slowly simmered in orange, cinnamon and dark sugar syrup until meltingly soft, a Day of the Dead tradition.
- Time1 hr 10
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.28 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Put the sugar, water, cinnamon sticks and cloves in a wide, heavy pan. Heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves and the kitchen smells of spice.
- 2
Add the orange slices and squash, laying the squash in as even a layer as you can.
- 3
Cover and simmer gently for 30 minutes, until the squash is tender but still holding its shape. Do not stir, just shake the pan.
30 min - 4
Uncover and cook for another 20 to 30 minutes, spooning the syrup over the squash, until the syrup is thick and glossy.
25 min - 5
Leave to cool in the syrup. Serve warm or chilled in bowls, with a good spoonful of syrup and a slice of orange.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.