5 Pumpkin Recipes to Reuse Your Jack-O-Lantern
Those cute, carved pumpkins that light the pathways for trick-or-treaters needn’t be tossed aside. Full of nourishing vitamins and minerals and tasty potential, it’s a shame to just toss them when Halloween is over. As long as your Jack-O-Lantern hasn’t begun to rot, you can use it to make some of these pumpkin recipes instead!
Many of the pumpkin recipes below call for canned pumpkin puree. You can replace that canned pumpkin with homemade pumpkin puree instead. It’s easy to make pumpkin puree from scratch using your old Jack-O-Lantern.
5 Post-Halloween Pumpkin Recipes
1. Pumpkin Pie
Nothing says fall like sweet and tasty pumpkin pie. It’s the quintessential fall pumpkin recipe. After the Halloween visitors have left, cut up your jack-o-lantern into small enough pieces to fit in a pot. Will the pot with water or apple cider along with spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and star anise and boil until the pieces are soft. Carefully peel the skin away once they are cool enough to handle. The pumpkin can then be pureed and added to your favorite pie recipe.
>>Get the vegan pumpkin pie recipe!
2. Pumpkin Pancakes
Once you have your pumpkin puree the possibilities are endless. Pumpkin is easily added to many recipes, but is especially delicious in this morning favorite. Simply add the puree instead of the liquid ingredients for your favorite pancake recipe or a mix of both depending on how much pumpkin flavor you want.
>>Get the pumpkin pancakes recipe!
3. Pumpkin Smoothies
Pumpkin is one of those ingredients which freezes great and can be thrown into several recipes. Fill ice cube trays with the puree, freeze and then keep in a bag to add to your morning smoothies. The pumpkin adds beta-carotene, fiber and vitamins while also offering rich flavor that blends well with apples, citrus and bananas. You can also add the frozen puree to soups, sauces and dessert recipes.
>>Get the pumpkin smoothie recipe!
4. Pumpkin Pasta
There are two ways to make pasta dishes out of your jack-o-lanterns. The first is using the puree as a savory filling by adding spices and even cheeses. The other method is to make the puree into pasta dough. One vegan method simply takes a few cups of flour in a bowl and adds tablespoons of the puree until a dough consistency is created. You can also add a little olive oil to help with rolling and for flavor. An egg can be added for egg noodles but you will need less puree or be willing to add more flour for more pasta. Either of these doughs can be rolled into gnocchi or your traditional pasta ribbons.
>>Try this pumpkin ravioli recipe!
5. Pumpkin Soup
An online search for pumpkin soup will bring about a bounty of cultural fare and healthy dishes suitable for any palate. One easy method uses the puree as the base and simply adds broth and cream or soy milk to thin it to the desired texture. Add spices, vegetables and even meats or tofu for a compete meal and top with fresh herbs.
>>Make a healing pumpkin miso soup!
What do you make out of your jack-o-lanterns? Share your recipes and ideas in the comments below!