Tasty and healthy ways to use pumpkin this season, including canned and fresh! Discover how you can serve pumpkin to your family.
Pumpkin gets a lot more attention during this time of year. It’s basically the poster child of fall, bringing us through spooky season all the way through Thanksgiving.
Carving and decorating pumpkins for the front porch is fun. But how often are you using them as an ingredient in the kitchen?
Nutritionally, pumpkin is a great source of fiber and vitamin A. Their seeds are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, and magnesium with a little bit of iron in there as well.
Whether you want to cook with traditional pumpkins or purchase canned pumpkin puree from the store, here are some ways you can use it!
1. Baked goods
Muffins, pancakes, and breads are a favorite vehicle for many flavors in our house, and pumpkin makes its rounds this time of year especially. If you have some overripe bananas, you could even make it a banana-pumpkin combo recipe. Toss in some crushed walnuts and perhaps some dark chocolate chips for older kids. Try Vegan Pumpkin Waffles or Pumpkin Vegan Cornbread Muffins.
2. Fudge
We love experimenting with different fudge flavors. This one is made with coconut oil, cashew butter, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice. Our kids go nuts for it! Find the full recipe here.
3. Roasted pumpkin seeds
Perhaps you carved the guts out of your pumpkins and want to repurpose the seeds! Roasting pumpkin seeds is super easy. Once you’ve removed the goo to separate out your seeds, be sure to wash and dry them well.
Then, place them in a sealable bag with a little olive oil and seasonings of choice (e.g., salt and pepper, garlic and onion powder, or a ranch seasoning combo like what we use on our Kale Chips) to cover them before spreading them out onto a cooking sheet. Bake them at 400 degrees F for about 10 minutes. Watch them closely to prevent burning.
4. Soup
If you’ve ever made a thick creamy soup made from carrots, cauliflower, or butternut squash, this is a similar concept. Pumpkin puree is often combined with a thick cream base, like coconut milk, and a roux made with flour and butter.
You can use vegetable broth or water for additional liquid and then add some warming spices like nutmeg, ginger, and cinnamon. A great soup for serving homemade croutons on top or thick crusty bread on the side.
5. Pasta sauce
Yes, homemade pasta sauce is a great way to use pumpkin! It provides a naturally creamy texture and warm, versatile flavor when cooked (or pureed). Try it in recipes like Vegan Pumpkin Fettucine Alfredo and toss with noodles!
There are so many ways to use pumpkin this season. Canned pumpkin is a great staple to keep on hand whenever you can find it throughout the year, and we encourage you to try recycling your carving pumpkin seeds into a new snack!
Chime In: What other ways does your family like using pumpkins in recipes? Share below!
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