Pumpkin Recipes for Halloween

Pumpkin is a versatile food with many traditional, warming recipes ideal for autumn and winter. Here are recipes for Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin Soup.

catch your pumpkins

First catch your pumpkins !

cut up the pumpkins

Cut them up and steam them

Halloween also gives us the opportunity to make a selection of delicious foods from our pumpkins, squashes or turnips. The name Pumpkin derives from a Greek word 'Pepon' meaning 'mellow' or 'ripened by the sun'. Pumpkins and winter squashes are rich in valuable nutrients, most of all the seeds. Never throw these away ! They have essential male nutrients contained within the female sphere, for this reason their derivatives are used in ailments of the prostrate gland. They contain iron for healthy blood, magnesium for maintaining cellular integrity, phosphorus, potassium and zinc for cellular growth. The flesh has vitamin E and beta carotene which the body converts to vitamin A. If you are vegetarian this is 'good meat'. Beta carotene is an important antioxidant, preventing free radical damage. It is a gentle laxative, the roughage helping to cleamse the colon. Sometimes the flesh is pulped and applied to burns, and the oil is used as a gentle emollient. It makes a good home-made babyfood, but leave out the spices. Grow one indoors - I dare you ! Go win a competition ! There is no food source better than one grown in the environment where you live, because it grows where you do, it is uniquely attuned to your situation.

Blind bake the pastry cases

Pumpkin pie is probably the best known recipe but pumpkin / squash soup is a delicious, warming meal ideal for long cold nights. It freezes perfectly and a single pumpkin can make enough soup to last the entire winter season (I got 32 soup servings from a single, average size pumpkin I grew last year) Pumpkin is also delicious with a cheese sauce and can be roasted ( but not whole because it explodes in the oven !)

Recipe 1. Pumpkin Pie:

Shortcrust pastry, about 1lb pumpkin, ground cinammon, ground mixed spice, ground ginger, brown sugar, single cream, 3 eggs.
a) Dice the pumpkin into 2cm cubes and steam until tender (about 10 mins) then liquidise.
b) Place into a mixing bowl and stirr in the other ingredients (except pastry)
c) Flour and roll out the pastry into an 8 inch flan dish and prick with a fork. Blind bake for 15 mins. at Mark 5 (190 C - 375 F) until firm.
d) Pour pumpkin mix into the base and bake for 45 mins or so at above temperature.

Mix the pumpkin pie ingredients

Cut the pumpkin pie and eat it !

Cut the pie and eat it !

The pumpkin soup ingredients ready

Recipe 2. Pumpkin Soup:

Pumpkin or squash, ground coriander, oil, salt, pepper, ground cumin, garlic cloves, tinned tomatoes, chilli, onion, vegetable stock, lentils or chick peas ( pre -cooked ).

1. Once you have scooped out your pumpkin, add a bit of water and simmer till soft, adding the other stuff to taste. Liquidise according to taste. This is a great seasonal soup for freezing.

Experiment with this recipe, try adding warming spices to taste. This is a filling and delicious soup that keeps the winter colds at bay.

Simon Mitchell

Home Food Preservation