Baked Pumpkin, Roast Seeds, Steamed Innards
'Tis the time of year that pumpkins are everywhere and every restaurant seems to have a few pumpkin specials. Pumpkin Latte, shakes, pies, etc.
So, what can you do with a pumpkin that's actually good for you? For starters, consider that pretty much the whole pumpkin is edible, but contains at least three substantially different textures and consistency. Therefore, I propose:
Baked Pumpkin
1 Medium Pumpkin
1 pinch of salt
1 Tbs Cinnamon
0.5 Cup Currants
2 Tbs Olive Oil
1) Preheat oven to 400F, and line a large baking sheet with baking parchment
2) Quarter the Pumpkin.
3) Use a large spoon to scrape out the seeds and innards (save these, we'll get to them in a minute)
4) Peel the pumpkin.
5) Cube the pumpkin
6) In a large bowl, mix the pumpkin, salt, oil, cinnamon and currants.
7) Spread on the baking sheet and roast for 40 minutes.
Roast Pumpkin Seeds
1 Pumpkin's worth of seeds.
2 pinches salt (to taste)
Cooking spray
Coriander (to taste)
1) preheat oven to 200F, and line a small pan with tin foil
2) Separate seeds from pumpkin innards
3) Mix seeds with salt and coriander.
4) Spray foil with cooking spray, distribute seeds, spray seeds.
5) Roast for 1-2 hours stirring every 20 minutes or so (cook to taste).
Steamed Innards
1 Pumpkin's worth of innards.
Agave Syrup to taste.
1) Microwave innards for about 2 minutes.
2) Mix with Agave Syrup.
I was told that this pumpkin is not meant to be used for pumpkin pie. Is it true? which one is typically used for the pie?
ReplyDeleteThat is correct. The huge pumpkins sold for Jack-o-lanterns are not appropriate for pie. That type has been bread to be large and flat with relatively little flesh. You want a smaller, more fleshy pumpkin for pie. Often they're actually labeled as pie pumpkins in the store.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, the ones you want are in the 2-4 lbs range (best ones both sound hollow and feel heavy for their size). The 10+ lbs ones are the ones for decorative carving, the tiny ones are also intended for display, but I think they're actually a type of acorn squash.
There are also good eating pumpkins with white or green skins in the 6-10 lbs range.
A good explanation of a pie pumpkin is here:
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-pie-pumpkins.htm