Although fresh pumpkin doesn't differ too much from canned pumpkin, take advantage of the season by using fresh pumpkin in your holiday recipes. Although it takes more effort than canned, fresh pumpkin will get you in the mood and bring some seasonal ambience to your kitchen.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 90 minutes
Here's How:
- Wash pumpkin with plain water to remove any dirt or debris. Pat dry.
- Cut a circle around the pumpkin stem and remove, then cut pumpkin in half with a vertical cut down the middle.
- Using a spoon, remove seeds and pulp. You may have to scrape the sides of the pumpkin to remove all the strings, but be sure not to scrape to deeply into the pumpkin.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Place pumpkin, cut side down, in shallow baking pans or dishes. If needed, cut pumpkin further into quarters to fit.
- Cover loosely with aluminum foil.
- Bake at 375 degrees for approximately one hour or until pumpkin is tender.
- When done, remove from oven and allow to cool.
- Once cooked and cooled, pumpkin should be easily removed from rind using a spoon.
- Based on the recipe, pumpkin can be mashed by hand or by using a food processor.
Tips:
- Choose pumpkins that are around four pounds in size and are free of any severe marks or blemishes.
- Pay close attention to color. You will want a pumpkin that is dark orange and uniform in color.
What You Need
- large, sturdy knife with sharp blade
- baking pans or dishes
- spoon
- aluminum foil
- oven
