Pumpkin Recipes That You’ve Never Tried Before
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If you celebrate Thanksgiving in the West, then you are no stranger to pumpkin pie. Many people enjoy this dish and for good reasons, but did you know there are many other recipes out there that have pumpkin in it? Below we share some basic recipes with pumpkin as the main ingredient.
The first recipe we want to share with you is a recipe called pumpkin pickles. They’re not pickles in the shape of pumpkins but they are pretty close to pickled pumpkins. To make this treat you’ll need 4 cups of pumpkin (cut into bite-sized cubes), 1-½ cups of sugar, and apple cider vinegar, 2 sticks of cinnamon and 10 whole cloves.
To make pumpkin pickles, first, steam the pumpkin for about 10 minutes or until it’s almost tender. You want to avoid the pumpkin touching the water as it’ll turn mushy after a while. After that, drain the water and set it aside. The second step is tossing the remaining ingredients into a saucepan and simmer it for about 20 minutes. Finally, add the pumpkin and cook for another 3 minutes before removing the pan from the heat and storing it in the fridge for 24 hours. The final step is when you are ready for it, take the pan out of the fridge and cook for another 5 minutes, then put the portions into sterilized jars, fill the jar with syrup, seal it and then process it by putting it into a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. The recipe makes 3 pints.
Second recipe is a classic: pancakes. While a lot of us are used to the traditional pancakes, there are some other food that can be used as a good base for pancakes. Bananas are one, but pumpkin is another alternative to flour. For this recipe, you’ll need 1 cup of cornmeal, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, 1⁄2 teaspoon of salt, 1⁄2 teaspoon of baking soda, 1⁄2 cup of cooked mashed pumpkin (mashed as fine as possible–canned works great for this recipe), 1⁄3 cup water, 1 beaten egg, and 2 tablespoons of melted butter (must be browned).
The recipe is also easy to follow. First, Mix cornmeal, sugar, salt, and soda in a large bowl. Then, add the mashed pumpkin, water and egg, and mix well before adding in the melted butter. You’ll then need to grease a stove-top griddle or heavy frypan and heat until it is very hot. Once the pan is set, drop massive tablespoons of batter onto the griddle or pan and fry until lightly browned. You’ll only need to flip once. Maple syrup is optional so serve it up if you like it! This recipe makes for 12 pancakes.
If you’re a fan of casseroles you’ll enjoy this casserole dish that’s unique and fresh. It’s got pumpkin in it of course but there’s also potato and Parmesan cheese in there as well. It sounds like an interesting combination but it’s a fantastic dish for a cold winter’s night or for the fall too. To make it you’ll need butter (as necessary), 1 pound of potatoes, 3 to 5 sprigs of thyme, 700 grams of pumpkin, a minced garlic clove, 2 cups of heavy cream, 1 cup of grated cheese, a pinch of ground nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste.
To make this gratin first, preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). You’ll then need to lightly butter a 10 x 9 in. (25 x 23 cm) gratin dish before you begin layering. From the bottom: layer with potatoes, season with salt, pepper and herbs, then top with a layer of pumpkin. Continue layering before finishing with pumpkin. Once layering is done, mix the garlic with the cream and pour over the top followed by grated cheese, and nutmeg. Cover the dish with buttered foil and bake for 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in the centre comes out clean. Once done, remove the foil and increase the oven temperature to 375ºF (190ºC) and cook for another 15 minutes or until the top is golden brown. You’ll need to wait 10 minutes after it’s done to let it cool down a bit and serve.
Pumpkin has a variety of uses outside of the traditional Jack O’Lantern, soup, or pie. Try out some of these unique and fresh recipes if you ever feel a hankering for pumpkin!