Pumpkin is not just for pie anymore. It can be used in sweet and savory dishes, such as soups, ravioli, and even smoothies. Experiment with different recipes and spices to create your own ideas.
Classic squash is usually only meant for pie, which is obviously a legitimate use for this winter squash, and a very tasty one indeed. However, increasingly, this extraordinarily nutritious pumpkin is being included in a variety of recipes, some sweet and some savory, that may soon become classics like pumpkin pie. The field of pumpkin recipes is constantly expanding, so consider these suggestions as a place to start and don’t be afraid to experiment and create your own ideas.
The easiest way to serve squash, especially if you buy it fresh, is to slice it, remove the seeds and strings, and cook or steam it. Top it with butter, a little spice (spicy pumpkin pie, nutmeg, ginger, or cinnamon all work well), and serve it as a main course of veggies. Choose small sugar squashes for this recipe, as they are sweeter, plumper, and less “stringy” than the larger varieties. Don’t forget that you can soak the seeds, roast them with a little salt, and make the perfect snack too.
Sweet dishes that can be made with pumpkin are constantly evolving. When squash is cooked and properly mashed (or purchased canned) it blends very well with other ingredients and often serves well as a substitute for fats like butter. You can make pumpkin desserts with nuts, raisins or even chocolate chips, various bar cookies, cheesecakes, ice cream, waffles or pancakes, muffins, scones or cake. The spices for sweet winter squash, which can usually be substituted in any of these recipes, often tend to resemble the spices used in dishes like carrot cake. Pumpkins steamed and added to pie can make delicious carrot cake like desserts that are exceptionally good when frosted with cream cheese frosting.
If you want to whip up a special dessert for friends, consider serving spicy cookies with dip made from pureed pumpkins, brown sugar, spices, and cream cheese. Always taste your cooked pumpkin before adding sugar, as some pumpkins will be sweeter than others and sugar levels may need to be adjusted. A common mistake is to add too much sugar, masking the true flavor of the squash. You can also bake pumpkins for a delicious “butter” similar to apple or pear butter, which is excellent as a spread on toast. Or alternatively, boost the nutritional value of smoothies and smoothies by adding winter squash puree.
There are many savory recipes that include pumpkins. These include cream soups, black bean and winter squash soup, pumpkin filled ravioli, mole, winter squash enchiladas or tamales, risotto, and small pumpkins stuffed with jambalaya or risotto. You can also use raw pumpkins, cut into julienne strips, sautéed briefly and added to pasta.
If you’re short on recipes, let the internet or a good modern cookbook be your guide. You’ll find many ways to turn this winter squash into more than the occasional ingredient in a pie.
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