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Pumpkins are done roasting when the halves start to collapse and you can pierce the skin with no resistance
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How to Roast Pumpkin Perfectly for Homemade Puree

Aug 31cooking tips, recipes

If you’ve ever tried to roast pumpkin at home and had watery, stringy or tasteless results, don’t give up! These tips will help you make sweet, creamy, smooth homemade pumpkin puree.

Pick a pumpkin variety that is known for good flavor and texture

Leave the really big pumpkins for jack-o-lanterns and the miniature ones for fun fall decorations. My favorite pumpkin variety is Winter Luxury, an heirloom pumpkin that is known for it’s smooth & sweet flesh. Other great varieties are Buttercup squash, Rouge Vif D’Etampes (a.k.a the Cinderella pumpkin!), and Long Island Cheese.

Cure your pumpkin

Almost all commercially sold pumpkin, even from farmer’s markets, isn’t cured properly. The taste and texture are SO much better in cured pumpkin. One benefit of growing your own pumpkins is that you can make sure this step happens!

Most small sugar or pie pumpkins (like Winter Luxury) are from the Cucurbita pepo variety. When cured in the sun for 1-2 weeks, the pumpkins lose water through evaporation and develop sweeter flesh. Other squash and pumpkins from the Cucurbita maxima variety need about a month to cure. Curing also helps pumpkin and squash to store better if you want to save them for later!

Use an ice cream scoop to remove the seeds

After you rinse your pumpkin and use a sharp knife to cut it in half, use an ice cream scoop to easily remove the pulp and seeds. Then, save the seeds and roast them!

Easily remove pumpkin seeds and pulp with an ice cream scoop

Roast pumpkin cut-side down and make cuts in the rind

A lot of roast pumpkin recipes call for either roasting it whole and making cuts to release steam, or cutting it in half. But by doing both, more water will evaporate and you can avoid watery pumpkin puree which is no good for most pumpkin recipes.

Roast pumpkin at 400ºF/220ºC for 45 minutes to an hour, or until you can poke a knife through the skin with no resistance.

Pumpkins are done roasting when the halves start to collapse and you can pierce the skin with no resistance

Cool for at least 30 minutes, then scoop out the flesh and puree it in a food processor. Add a little water, if necessary, to get a nice smooth puree! Store pumpkin in air-tight containers in the freezer, or use right away in a delicious pumpkin recipe!

Freshly roasted pumpkin puree in a food processor

And my final tip: only use this precious, hard-won homemade pumpkin puree in recipes where roasted pumpkin is the star flavor. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin butter or pumpkin soup are great examples!

Previous Post: « Fresh tomato sauce with only three ingredients
Next Post: How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds (crunchy, not chewy!) »

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I’m Abbi! I’m all about savoring each season through growing and cooking food from scratch. I hope this blog inspires you to do the same!

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@sow.and.savor

sow.and.savor

On this, the last day of summer, I bring you: a pe On this, the last day of summer, I bring you: a peach buttermilk ice cream recipe (with no eggs!)
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I was given about 40 lbs of free peaches this summer, so I’ve been deep in peach recipe testing mode. I narrowed it down to three really great ones, including this sweet/fruity/slightly tangy peach ice cream variation. 🍦
How are you sending summer out?
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These Apple Cider Sourdoughnuts are maybe the best These Apple Cider Sourdoughnuts are maybe the best I’ve ever had. Sourdough just works so well with apple and cinnamon!
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The dough is kinda tricky to work with, as you can see from the “rustic” shape of the doughnuts. They go from nearly flat pieces of dough to airy clouds of cinnamon & sugar with a hint of apple cider in a few minutes. Definitely worth the wait! Check the link in my profile for the recipe.
Now that summer is over, I’ve been researching w Now that summer is over, I’ve been researching ways to preserve the fresh herbs I grew! 🤓 Most herbs can be blended with salt to keep the fresh flavor on hand all year long. The salt can be used in recipes just like any other salt, or as a flavorful finishing salt. 🌿🧂
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I used a variegated Berggarten sage to try this method and I’m addicted to the result! I am going to use this in so many fall recipes. 🤤
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I’ve read that basil, which doesn’t keep that well as a dried herb, retains a lot of flavor with this method. I wish I had known that when my Thai basil plant was going strong this summer🤦🏻‍♀️
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Herbed salts seem like a great homemade gift, too. I’m working on a “gifts you can grow” post and this will be at the top of the list!
Peach, Honey & Thyme Galette | 🍑
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I promise this is the last peach recipe for a while - I had so. many. peaches. to get through 😅
I won’t lie to you; I had this for breakfast last week on my birthday and I regret nothing.
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The thyme and honey add sweet, rich, herbal goodness to peaches that are already so good! Do you have any favorite herb & fruit flavor combinations? Apple & fennel is another fave of mine.
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Recipe at the link in my profile!
When you gotta impress the HOA so they approve you When you gotta impress the HOA so they approve your plans 😂 at first I was kind of annoyed that they asked me to submit a sketch, but it really helped me visualize the end result! 2️⃣ is the “before,” with generic trees and bushes that our builder put in. So many burning bushes, which can be really pretty but, also can get HUGE. 3️⃣ is where I ended the day! Boxes to be leveled once the ground thaws 😅 I’m documenting as much as possible in my “Yard to Farm” story highlight!
The good stuff 🍂 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Th The good stuff 🍂 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This is one of my favorite photos for my mom’s cookbook. I have so many memories of her canning and experimenting in the kitchen! Her apple butter recipe is the pure distilled essence of autumn, and she would have loved to share it so I am doing just that. 🍎 🍁 🎃 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I know I’m hitting you with two fruit butter recipes in one week, but trust when I say this is worth it!
Woke up to frosty rooftops 🍁 it’s about to ge Woke up to frosty rooftops 🍁 it’s about to get reallll cozy around here. What are you up to today?
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