Ever been to a pumpkin festival? They are not only interesting, but you can collect loads of ideas for using pumpkins. The first thing people think about is Jack o’ lanterns, but using pumpkins in baking and cooking for a healthy diet is also becoming more popular.
How To Use Pumpkin
Pumpkin is an excellent source of potassium, beta-carotene, as well as calcium and magnesium, plus vitamin E, C and D. A very healthy ingredient you can serve in many different ways. A bowl of pumpkin soup, with a splash of cream and a big piece of fresh soda bread, goes down a treat on a cold day. Spice it up a bit by adding some chilli or make it with ginger and orange for a sophisticated dish.
Try using some fresh pumpkin and treat your regular Sunday dinner to a side portion of roasted pumpkin—just pop it in with the roast potatoes. You can add some pureed or canned pumpkin to thicken up stews and casseroles, the taste is not strong, so it will not dominate your dishes. It is a wonderful addition to curries and a given ingredient in many vegetarian meals.
Savoury Or Sweet Canned Pumpkin
One of the best things about creating healthy recipes using canned pumpkin is they can be savoury or a desert. The American famous pumpkin pie is an example. This spiced sweet flan is traditionally eaten for Thanksgiving. But you can add canned pumpkin to cakes and bread recipes; it works exceptionally well with apples and with the spices cinnamon and nutmeg. Be adventurous and add some healthy pumpkin puree to your daily smoothies. You are in for a treat!