Pumpkins often go unnoticed as the culinary treat they are. In warmer climates all over the world, such as India, Africa and Asia, pumpkins are eaten on a regular basis as an important source of beta carotene and vitamin C. Large pumpkins, like those seen in abundance and used as jack-o-lanterns, while not as sweet as smaller pie pumpkins, can be cooked into pies, baked goods and savory meals.
Step 1
Cut open the top of your pumpkin with a knife in the same way you would to carve it as a jack-o-lantern. Scoop out the seeds and fiber with large spoon, saving the seeds for roasting.
Step 2
Cut the pumpkin into quarters and carefully peel away the hard pumpkin skin from the moist flesh with a knife or peeler to utilize chunks of pumpkin. Use chunks of pumpkin in the same way you would use potatoes for baking with roasts, in soups, pureed for desserts or mashed and seasoned lightly with sea salt, pepper and butter.
Step 3
Create a stew bowl out of a whole pumpkin instead of chopping into chunks. Place the hollowed pumpkin in its whole form into a baking pan and prepare a beef stew within its walls. Place desired amount of cooked beef stew ingredients into the pumpkin and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until walls of pumpkin begin to soften enough to eat, about 45 minutes to an hour. Serve stew with scrapings of pumpkin from the natural pumpkin container for a healthy meal the whole family will enjoy.
Step 4
Empty desired amount of pumpkin cubes into soup pot or roasting pan to use for stews and roasts. To use in desserts, thaw and puree desired amount for baking. Pureed pumpkin will demand a slight increase in dry ingredients for baked goods.
Step 5
Roast seeds for a nutrient-dense snack, rinse well and dry on a paper bag overnight. Toss seeds in 1 tbsp. olive oil and 1 tsp. salt. You may add savory or sweet spices such as cinnamon and curry powder for additional flavor if desired. Toast in preheated oven at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes stirring every five minutes to ensure even browning. Store in airtight container after cooling well.
Tips and Warnings
- You can find an abundance of recipes using pumpkin within the cultures of Thailand, Africa, India, and South America. Cut peeled quarters into cubes and place into freezer bags. You can save cubed pumpkin in your freezer to cook at a later date. Use the frozen pumpkin pureed into pumpkin pies, pancakes, cookies and breads, or use chunks in stews and roasts for a savory dinner.
- Do not serve cooked pumpkin to those with allergies to squash products. Children should be supervised when using sharp knives used to cut pumpkins for cooking
Things You'll Need
- Sharp knife
- Large spoon
- Freezer bags
- Spices
- Cooking pots and pans
References
- "The Nutrition Almanac"; Luvanne Dunne; 2001
- "The Encyclopedia Of Healing Foods"; Michael Murray, N.D.; 2005
- "How Baking Works: Exploring the Fundamentals of Baking Science"; Paula I. Figoni; 2010
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