by HollyHow to Cook Pumpkin – ever wondered how to cook a fresh pumpkin and make your own homemade pumpkin puree? It’s easy!
This is perfect to enjoy in my favorite Pumpkin Pie Recipe or to add fall flavor to Pumpkin Pancakes or Easy Pumpkin Muffins!
Ahh Pumpkin…. every fall I look forward to all things pumpkin including my delicious pumpkin spice latte and all of the cinnamon-y pumpkin desserts.
Pumpkin; fruit or vegetable? What’s your guess? While we often think of pumpkin as a veggie, it is actually a fruit! Regardless, pumpkin is perfect for baking, for pies and pumpkin cakes and more!
Homemade Pumpkin Puree
Most pumpkin desserts start with a can of pumpkin puree which is none other than cooked mashed pumpkin (not to be confused with pumpkin pie mix which is sweetened and spiced). Did you know you can quickly and easily make your own at home? Homemade pumpkin puree is really quite simple to make and it’s very inexpensive!
The first thing you’ll notice is how beautiful the color is, more of a bright yellow than a deep rusty orange color (like a canned puree) and the flavor is wonderful.
First, How to Cook Pumpkin
When choosing your pumpkin, look for a small brightly colored pumpkin with little green or blemishes. Be sure to choose a variety intended for cooking such as sugar pumpkins for the best flavor and texture. A 5-pound pumpkin should give you about 2 cups of puree.
Pumpkin can be either baked or boiled but baking does produce the most flavor and the best puree for all of your recipes, sweet or savory!
When baking pumpkin, I add a little bit of olive oil and then season depending on the recipe I plan to use it in. If you are making a dessert like Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies, season it with a pinch of salt and some cinnamon. If you’re using it in a savory recipe like pumpkin soup or chili, you can use salt and pepper.
Second, How to Make Pumpkin Puree
Pumpkin puree is really just mashed pumpkin. In this recipe you’re going to cook the pumpkin (baking is preferred). If you purchase a sugar pumpkin, it should be nice and tender and easy to mash using just a fork.
Homemade pumpkin puree naturally has more water than it’s canned counterpart so I strongly suggest allowing it to drain in a colander lined with cheesecloth for a bit to remove some of the liquid.
Homemade Pumpkin Puree
Ingredients
- 1 sugar pumpkin
- 1 tablespoon olive oil if baking
Follow Spend with Pennies on Pinterest
Instructions
To Bake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Wash pumpkin and cut in half. Remove seeds and pith.
Rub pumpkin with olive oil inside and out. Sprinkled with salt.
Place on a baking tray, cut side down. Bake 35-40 minutes or until tender when pierced.
- Allow to cool and remove skin with a knife. Pumpkin can be cubed or pureed.
To Boil
- Wash pumpkin and cut in half. Remove seeds and pith.
- Peel and cut into chunks. Place in a large pot and fill with water.
Boil until pumpkin is soft (about 20 minutes). Drain very well.
Recipe Notes
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)
