As summer comes to a close, restaurant menus and supermarket displays begin to sport the colors and flavors of fall. Peaches give way to pumpkins. Like Cinderella’s fairytale pumpkin that was magically turned into a handsome coach, real life pumpkins can be transformed into a surprising variety of culinary creations far beyond pumpkin pie and pumpkin-spice lattes.
Pumpkin is a versatile vegetable (though it’s technically a fruit). A member of the gourd family, pumpkins come in a rainbow of colors including white, blue and striped. From contest-winning giants to tiny ones, pumpkin varieties come in a myriad shapes and sizes including flat. But, shades of orange and a medium to small size are best known for adding autumnal glow and the traditional nutty pumpkin flavor to recipes.
Pureed pumpkin can be swirled into batter for muffins, biscuits, pancakes and breads. It’s the star in savory dishes too, from creamy soups to pasta fillings. Ravioli and tortellini stuffed with pumpkin seasoned with herbs, such as sage, are Italian classics. Chunks of roasted pumpkin can be added to stews and salads. Roasting concentrates the flavors of pumpkin and other winter squashes such as acorn and butternut.
At Pricci restaurant in Buckhead, pumpkin is pickled with chanterelle mushrooms and served with braised octopus in a blood orange dressing.
From pepitas, the toasted pumpkin seeds of Spain, to Haitian pumpkin soup with thyme, pumpkins are global ingredients. In Greece, pureed pumpkin is swirled into chickpea hummus. Diced pumpkin adds a sweet note to Asian-inspired stir-fry vegetables.
Pumpkin facts
An ingredient native to the Americas, explorers to the New World took pumpkins back to Europe where the fruit first appeared in paintings in the early 16th century.
Nutritionally, pumpkin is a powerhouse. A rich source of beta-carotene, which the body turns into vitamin A, pumpkins are healthy for our skin and eyes.
Other key nutrients in pumpkin include dietary fiber, as well as folate and the mineral potassium important for heart health. Count just 50 calories for a whole cup of cooked pumpkin. And it seems pumpkin is also good to put on your face. From exfoliating facials to rich moisturizers, pumpkin is a popular ingredient in skin protecting cosmetics.
No wonder jack-o-lanterns smile.
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