These Pumpkin Recipes Will Have You Rethinking Fall Dining (2024)

FAQs

What part of the pumpkin is pumpkin puree? ›

Commonly called for in pumpkin recipes, puree is the cooked and mashed flesh of any number of different varieties of squash—yes, squash.

Made with only one ingredient: pumpkin. Each bulk can of Libby's Pumpkin contains only one ingredient - pumpkin. Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin has been a favorite for pumpkin pies, rolls, and baked goods for more than 75 years.

Yes, you can use that stringy slimy stuff in the middle of the pumpkin: put it in a pan with plenty of water, and boil it to make a thin broth. Strain the broth, then mix it with apple or orange juice and mulling spices for an aromatic autumnal warmer.

Try eating pumpkin raw: trim off the skin, slice the flesh thin like a tortilla chip using a mandolin, and have it with garlicky hummus! Use in cakes, custards, cookies, breads, muffins, homemade pasta, ravioli… ours never lasts that long… Make pumpkin pie.

Canned pumpkin (labeled as "100% pure pumpkin") is a purée of pumpkin that is sometimes mixed with other kinds of winter squash. It is unsweetened and does not contain any added spices. Canned pumpkin and pumpkin puree are the same thing, and you'll often see the terms used interchangeably in recipes and cookbooks.

Although they both come in cans and the packaging looks almost identical, they can't be used interchangeably. Pumpkin puree doesn't have anything added to it, but pumpkin pie filling comes with pumpkin spice and sugar already mixed in.

Libby's, the quintessential canned pumpkin brand, uses a proprietary strain of the Dickinson pumpkin variety in their product, which is also often called a Dickinson squash. On Libby's website, it states that their product is 100 percent pumpkin.

The Best Overall: Libby's 100% Pure Canned Pumpkin

There is a reason that Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin has been the go-to brand for so many people for so long.

Like all fruits, pumpkin is a good source of fiber. Canned pumpkin contains 7 grams of fiber per one-cup serving. Fiber is beneficial for removing cholesterol from the body, keeping blood sugars from spiking and helping regulate bowel habits. In addition, fiber also helps us to feel fuller longer.

And, don't forget the tasty pumpkin leaves and flowers are also edible. Even the pumpkin vines are edible. However, the stem, skin, and stringy sinews inside the fruit are not used in cooking or baking.

Should you throw away pumpkin guts? ›

To ensure your home plumbing system remains trouble-free, follow these effective strategies. Dispose of pumpkin guts in the trash. You may want to flush pumpkin guts down the toilet or put them down the kitchen sink.

Pureed, baked or roasted pumpkin is a nutrient-dense food that is low in calories and fat while being high in fiber, helping you feel full for longer.

Choose sweet varieties, such as Cinderella and peanut pumpkins if you want to bake pies, quick breads, or other desserts. Turban squash works well in savory dishes. Not sure what you want to cook? A Hubbard squash can be used in either sweet or savory dishes!

You can eat any variety of pumpkin, gourd or squash. Varieties vary wildly in taste.

As it turns out, some canned pumpkin purée is actually made from one or more types of winter squash, like butternut, Hubbard, Boston Marrow, and Golden Delicious. So then, why might the label say “100% pumpkin?” The USDA is actually pretty lenient with its distinction between pumpkin and squash.

First and foremost: what is pumpkin puree? Canned pumpkin and pumpkin puree are the same thing. These terms are often used interchangeably in recipes, though you may also see the term solid-pack pumpkin. All these terms mean 100% steamed and pureed pumpkin—no extras, no add-ins—not even in the canned variety.

Libby's, the quintessential canned pumpkin brand, uses a proprietary strain of the Dickinson pumpkin variety in their product, which is also often called a Dickinson squash. On Libby's website, it states that their product is 100 percent pumpkin.

Takeaways. Pumpkin is an excellent source of nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, essential oils, protein, and fiber. This versatile fruit provides many health benefits for the skin, eyes, heart, gut, immunity, and more.