Have you ever tried baked pumpkin peel? Have you ever served a risotto inside a soft, steaming hot pumpkin? This and other ideas in an article dedicated to the best vegetable of this season.
How to clean pumpkin
Pumpkin is the best of the autumn vegetable, but some are perhaps afraid of it because it appears difficult to clean and cut due to its hard and irregular skin. First of all we want to tell you that it’s not always necessary to peel it because the pumpkin can even be cooked whole in the oven or sliced with the peel, as you will read in the following recipes. If, however, you only need the pulp, then first wash the pumpkin under a jet of running water to remove any soil residue, dry it and then cut it in half with a long sharp knife. At this point cut it again into slices and remove the seeds. Leave the slices quite thick so that you can cut the peel better. Place them on a cutting board and with the knife take only the hardest outer part. Always keep your fingers away from the blade as this procedure is somewhat delicate.
How to recycle pumpkin peels
As with peasant traditions in the kitchen, nothing is thrown away but recycled instead. Did you know that pumpkin peels for example, are excellent cooked in soup? They’re also great as additions to jams to give an extra touch of flavor and creaminess. If you want to prepare them in the oven with other vegetables, boil them for about 30-40 minutes and then drain them and season them with oil, salt and herbs and cook them at 200° for about 20 minutes. Try them in combination with carrot skins and other leftovers to be reused in the kitchen.
Baked whole pumpkin
If you want to bake a whole pumpkin in the oven the best quality one to choose is the Avalon, which weighs around 2 kg and fits perfectly inside the oven thanks to its small size. Just wash it properly and cut off the cap. You can also leave the seeds inside and remove them after cooking, or you can do it now. Then make incisions in the pulp with a small, sharp knife. Place the pumpkin on a sheet of baking paper or aluminum foil or inside a baking pan and let it cook for about an hour at 200°. The whole pumpkin can be a perfect container for risotto, short pasta or for creams and meat or cheese dishes. Also, if you find pumpkins not too large you can also serve them as single portions. Obviously use the pulp cooked in the oven to prepare the sauce for risotto or pasta or add it to other dishes if you want to use the pumpkin as a container only. If the pumpkin is small and remains soft even on the outside, you can eat it all, including the skin!
Sliced pumpkin baked in the oven with the peel
To make this you need a pumpkin with a particularly soft skin like Delica. Just slice it not too thinly and bake it in the oven with baking paper for 15-20 minutes at 200°. It is excellent simply seasoned with oil and herbs, but if you love the contrast between sweet and savory try it with Maldon salt, liquid honey and herbs (thyme and rosemary).
Pumpkin baked without the peel in the oven
If you want to prepare a pan of mixed vegetables with pumpkin to bake in the oven, then remove the peel and then add it. It goes very well with seasonal vegetables like radishes, red turnip, onions, and celeriac. With peeled pumpkin slices you can also prepare a kind of very tasty Parmigiana. Just alternate in the baking tray thin slices of pumpkin with taleggio cheese, mozzarella, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and aromatic herbs to flavor. Complete with Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and flakes of butter and bake in a static oven at 200° for 25 minutes. A great second course or side dish, easy and quick to make.
What to do with pumpkin seeds
Never throw them away! They are a great snack, light and low in calories as well as a source of magnesium, zinc, and selenium. They are also good for the heart because they reduce levels of bad cholesterol in the blood. You can cook them in the oven or pan, but first it’s very important they are thoroughly washed and dried. Then place them in a baking pan with oil, salt, and spices such as paprika or curry and cook them at 150° for 50 minutes. If you prefer to cook them in a pan, season them with a little oil and let them toast over medium-low heat for about an hour.