16 Dec Cooking with Pumpkins

If you are thinking about cooking with pumpkins, you won’t be short of ideas to use this versatile vegetable; they can be used in sweet and savory dishes. Here are some ideas and tips for cooking with pumpkins in the kitchen:

Choosing the Right Pumpkin

With quite a choice of pumpkins to use, what are your options?

Sugar Pumpkins: These are the best for cooking and baking due to their sweet, dense flesh.

Jack-o’-Lantern Pumpkins: Larger and stringier than other pumpkins and better for decoration, the seeds are very good for roasting.

Canned Pumpkin: Short of time, these are a convenient option, but be sure it’s pure pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling unless specified.

Preparing Fresh Pumpkin

Like most things with cooking, praparation is key and these tips should be followed:

Roasting: Cut the pumpkin in half, scoop out seeds, and roast at 375°F (190°C) until tender. Scoop out the flesh for soups, purees, or baking.

Steaming or Boiling: Peel, cube, and cook until soft. Use in curries, stews, or mashed as a side dish.

Seeds: Clean and toss with oil and spices, then roast for a crunchy snack.

Savory Pumpkin Ideas:

Prefer your pumpkin savory? here are some great options:

Soups & Stews: Pumpkin adds creaminess and depth of flavor to soups, chowders, and curries.

Risotto & Pasta: Mix roasted pumpkin or puree into creamy risottos or pasta sauces.

Stuffed Pumpkin: Fill a hollowed pumpkin with grains, vegetables, or meat and bake.

Pumpkin Hummus: Blend pumpkin puree with chickpeas, tahini, garlic, and lemon juice.

Pumpkin Chili: Stir pumpkin puree into chili for a slightly sweet, thick base.

Sweet Pumpkin Creations:

Have a sweet tooth? These tasty sweet pumpkin dishes maybe more to youir liking:

Pumpkin Desserts: Classic pies, muffins, bread, cakes, and puddings.

Pumpkin Spice Latte: Blend pumpkin puree with milk, espresso, and pumpkin pie spices.

Pumpkin Butter: Cook pumpkin puree with sugar, spices, and a touch of apple cider vinegar.

Cookies & Brownies: Substitute pumpkin puree for part of the fat or eggs in recipes.

Storage Tips:

• Fresh Pumpkin: Store whole pumpkins in a cool, dry place for up to 2 months.

• Pumpkin Puree: Keep in the fridge for 5-7 days or freeze in portions for up to 3 months.

• Seeds: Store roasted seeds in an airtight container for up to a week.

Experiment with spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cumin, or chili powder to highlight pumpkin’s sweet or savory potential!