20 Perfect Pumpkin Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What makes pumpkin taste better? ›

For even more flavor, you can add spices (like the celebrated pumpkin pie spice!) to the purée during the cooking step. Heating spices “blooms” them, releasing their flavorful, fragrant oils.

Canned pumpkin (labeled as "100% pure pumpkin") is a purée of pumpkin that is sometimes mixed with other kinds of winter squash. It is unsweetened and does not contain any added spices. Canned pumpkin and pumpkin puree are the same thing, and you'll often see the terms used interchangeably in recipes and cookbooks.

To help decrease your blood pressure, try eating pumpkin, which contains potassium that helps to control blood pressure. Potassium also helps with bone health and decreases your risk for diabetes. Around 10% of your daily potassium is found in just a half-cup serving of canned pumpkin.

To complement pumpkin with sweet flavor pairings, consider using spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and vanilla, or sweet ingredients like chocolate, maple, honey, cranberries or brown sugar. Create savory dishes by pairing pumpkin with spices like chilies, cajun, cayenne or pepper.

Cook It on the Stove

Briefly cooking your canned pumpkin purée on the stove can help improve both the flavor and texture. This method helps reduce excess moisture, which gives the pumpkin a superior texture. It also releases the natural pumpkin flavor and helps reduce the metallic taste from the can.

Pumpkin is notorious for pairing well with warm winter spices – as found in a variety of Moroccan-inspired cuisines. Try incorporating cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cumin and chilli with your pumpkin dishes for flavour-packed feasts.

If you are making a pumpkin pie, the canned filling can be used in place of the puree, sugar, spices, and thickeners. You would want to adjust the recipe for the extra ingredients in the filling. Just remember, stay away from the canned pie filling unless you want the dish to taste like pumpkin pie.

Pumpkin puree is made by steaming and pureeing squash so there are no added ingredients. Is canned pumpkin cooked? Yes, it's already been cooked via steaming. It's safe to eat canned pumpkin straight from the can, but it's infinitely better baked into a pan of pumpkin bars.

Due to its high soluble fiber content, pumpkin is very good for your dog's digestion. If you feed your dog some pumpkin, it will add bulk to their stool. This helps reduce issues with diarrhea. In addition, fermentation of the same fiber produces beneficial fatty acids that supply energy to cells.

Although pumpkin is a higher potassium food, in moderation it can be beneficial for your overall health. Pumpkin is packed with nutritional benefits that are great for the renal diet including fiber, Vitamin C and beta-carotene. So go ahead, enjoy this fall delights in moderation today!

Is pumpkin a carb or protein? ›

Pumpkin is a starchy vegetable, providing carbohydrate and the energy needed to fuel our body. As pumpkin is also rich in fibre, it keeps you feeling full for longer and reduces your urge to snack between meals.

Pumpkin has a high GI, at 75, which makes a perception of it not being good for diabetes patients. “But one also needs to see it in the context of the impact of its carbs on the body's blood sugar level — which is very low. Thus, pumpkin is actually a safe bet for diabetic patients,” explained Tyagi.

Blue cheeses like gorgonzola team up well with the notes of dried fruit typical of pumpkin. Another excellent pairing is with a nice fresh goat's cheese since its acidulous notes offset the sweetness of pumpkin.

For cooking, you'll want to use sugar pumpkins (also called pie or sweet pumpkins), which are small and round. Long Island Cheese pumpkins, which are more oblong and can look like a wheel of cheese, are also good to eat. Field pumpkin types are larger, have watery, stringy flesh, and are best for decorating.

"Ironically, there's no actual pumpkin in pumpkin flavoring," says Anne Cundiff, a registered dietitian in Des Moines. "It's actually a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice and cloves." Pumpkin flavoring actually harkens back to the pilgrims, Cundiff says.

Always water plants well before and after planting. Pinch out the main stems once growth starts; this will encourage more lateral stems and give you a heavier crop of fruit. To encourage large pumpkins, allow only two to three to develop on each plant. Water plants thoroughly before planting and allow to drain.