It’s that time of year again when pumpkins line our doorways and fill shelves in our shops. We love carving them and adding them to our homes as autumn accessories, but often, most are just left there and ready for the bin.
This year, it’s time to cut back on the pumpkin waste and try cooking up some cosy and delicious foods.
From heartwarming soups to dinners that the whole family will love, and of course a little sweet treat, we have five gorgeous pumpkin-inspired recipes that will leave you wanting more, and ensure no pumpkins get wasted!
Pumpkin Soup
@goodfooddiscoveries Who’s still in a pumpkin mood? 🙋♀️🤤 #roastedpumpkinsoup #cookingvideo #learntocookwithme ♬ Idea 10 – Gibran Alcocer
Nothing beats a warm, hearty soup on a cold October day, and if you want to spice up your regular soup rotation of chicken and vegetable soup, pumpkin soup is the perfect change for this time of year.
This pumpkin soup gives all the yummy and heartwarming feelings with only a few simple ingredients. All you need is pumpkins, some simple veg and cream, all blended together to give that perfect creamy autumn taste.
With soup being so versatile, you can even add some spice to really create a warm, cosy soup.
Serve as a starter with cream and crunchy croutons to impress some dinner guests or keep for lunch and have with a fresh, toasted, melted cheese sandwich – the perfect autumn snack!
Creamy Pumpkin Pasta
@jennifervalentyne This is Crazy Delicious!!! Creamy Pumpkin Pasta 🎃 Melt 2 tablespoons butter add 4 gloves garlic minced 1 cup heavy cream 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper 1/4 tsp nutmeg 1 cup graded parmesan 1 cup pumpkin purée -make sure it’s canned purée and not filling toss with your fav pasta 1 box or pkg garnish with sage (optional) #pasta #easyrecipe #pumpkinseason ♬ In the Mood – Glenn Miller
This next recipe is an ultimate autumn comfort meal.
If you have tried the pumpkin soup but want something just as comforting but a little more filling, this creamy pumpkin pasta is everything that you will need and more.
By combining a simple tomato and creamy mascarpone sauce with a smooth blend of pumpkin and garlic puree, you can elevate a regular pasta sauce to a dish that will have you going back for more.
To finish off this delicious dish, serve it with some warm garlic bread and a handful of parmesan shavings to bring a classic comforting pasta sauce to the next level.
Pumpkin Curry
@chilipeppercooks Replying to @Priyanka Easy Thai Pumpkin Red Curry Pumpkin 1 can coconut milk 1 whole sliced onion 2-3 tbsp red curry paste 1-2 tbsp of chopped garlic Thai Chili Peppers Cilantro 1. In a pan on medium heat add in oil, onions and 1 tsp salt. Cook onions until translucent. 2. Add in chopped garlic, cook until it’s browned. 3. Add in one can of coconut milk. 4. Add in 2-3 tbsp red curry paste. Mix it in and cook for about 3 mins. 5. Add in your pumpkin, add in 1 tsp of salt and Thai Chili Peppers. Cover and cook for about 20 mins on medium low heat until fork tender. 6. Taste and adjust with salt if needed. 7. Garnish with Cilantro. #pumpkinseason #thaicurry #easyrecipe ♬ original sound – Shihan – Thai Chili Guy
If you are sick of having the same old chicken curry week in week out, why not switch it up and try this take on a dinner-time classic?
With a mix of pumpkin chunks and coconut milk for a creamy, mild sauce and red chillies and turmeric to add that little bit of kick, this dish will have you converted to a new classic dinner.
This curry is definitely packed with flavour – and completely vegetarian too, a perfect meal for everyone to enjoy!
Serve alongside some steamed basmati rice, and if you are feeling fancy, some delicious garlic naan bread and poppadoms with mango chutney sauce for some extra sweetness to balance out the spice!
Roasted Pumpkin Bites
@lauren.leyva 1 Pumpkin, 5 ways… Maple roasted pumpkin 🎃 🌎67% of UK families through away 1 pumpkin each year with a total of around 22.2 million pumpkins being estimated waste in 2022. 🙃59% of people don’t know that pumpkins are edible! 🎃 Pumpkins are full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, and are versatile for both sweet and savoury recipes! … So here’s a simple recipe. Ingredients: Leftover pumpkin (I used a third of a giant pumpkin) 4 TBsp olive oil 6 TBsp maple syrup 2 Tsp dried thyme 1 Tsp all-spice Salt Blue cheese or parmesan (topping) Method: Preheat the oven to 200°C. Chop your leftover pumpkin into rough chunks. Add to a large baking tray with the other ingredients, but only using half the maple syrup. Mix and roast for 20 mins, then mix in the remaining maple syrup and roast for another 10-15 minutes until browned in places. Add to a serving dish and add chunks of blue cheese or grated parmesan for a salty contrast. Enjoy! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #lowcostrecipe #easyrecipes #lowcostfood #viralrecipes #lowwasterecipes #lowwasterecipes #pumpkinrecipe #pumpkinrecipes #pumpkin #pumpkinseason #autumnweather #autumnfood #autumnrecipe #autumnbaking #healthymeals #healthyfood #healthylifestyle #halloween #halloweenfood ♬ original sound – Lauren Leyva
If you have tried the recipes and still have some pumpkin leftovers, this recipe creates the perfect roast dinner side course.
All you need to do is cut your leftover pumpkin into chunks before coating in some olive oil and adding a mix of spices and seasonings, and pop into the oven for roasting. You can even add on a honey or maple glaze for some flavourful sweetness before serving with a gorgeous home-cooked Sunday roast.
These roasted pumpkin bites will be the perfect addition to change up your dinners for the October months and might even have you adding them to your menu long after October is over!
Pumpkin Blondies
@mad_about_food🎃 PUMPKIN BLONDIES 🎃 Batter ½ cup salted butter melted 1 ½ cups light brown sugar packed 1 cup pure pumpkin puree 2 eggs room temperature 2 tsp vanilla extract 2 cups all purpose flour 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice Swirl Topping 2 tbsp salted butter softened ¼ cup light brown sugar 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice Preheat oven to 350F and line 8×8 baking pan. Whisk melted butter, brown sugar, pumpkin puree, eggs and vanilla together. Mix flour and pumpkin pie spice and fold into wet ingredients. Pour batter into pan. Mix swirl topping ingredients and swirl into batter. Bake 350F 40 mins♬ original sound – mad_about_food
Finally, it’s time for a sweet treat to finish off these stunning seasonal pumpkin dishes.
And if you have had enough of the pumpkin pies and cakes, but still want that fall taste, these pumpkin inspired blondies are exactly what you need.
Start by blending some pumpkins together to create a smooth mixture, before adding to some brown sugar with flour butter and eggs. Whisk together and add some white chocolate chips and some cinnamon for a flavourful autumn treat. Pop in the oven to bake, and there you have it – warm, moist blondies that you simply cannot resist
Have with a warm cup of tea or coffee (or a sneaky piece every few minutes) and stick on some Hocus Pocus for the ultimate autumn evening!