Name: Fresh Pumpkin Puree - How to Make this Fall Staple
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 1 pie pumpkin

Here is one of my latest cooking tips for the holidays – making your own fresh pumpkin puree.

Pumpkin puree is a staple in Halloween and Thanksgiving cooking. From pancakes to smoothies, to fudge and cookies, this creamy part of the pumpkin adds an earthy flavor to all your fall recipes.

You can buy it at the supermarket, of course, but it is super easy to make and much less expensive. Let’s find out how to do it.

Since pumpkins are one of the five symbols of Thanksgiving, using its purée in recipes makes great sense!

Making Fresh Pumpkin Puree

Pumpkins are readily available this time of the year. You can either grow your own if you love gardening, or purchase them from the grocer or Farmer’s market.

All types of pumpkins will work for this recipe but the smaller pie pumpkins and heirloom pumpkins will give your puree the best flavor.

The larger Jack O Lantern pumpkins give a more bland taste to the puree. So it depends on what you plan to do with it, and what else will go into the recipe.

To start, you will need to clean your pumpkin. The very inside of the pumpkin has seeds and is quite stringy and you will want to remove those.

Be sure to save the seeds. Pumpkin seeds can be roasted in many different ways and make a super healthy snack. Just clean off the excess pumpkin flesh, wash them and set them aside to dry.

Cut the pumpkin into large sized chunks and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Roast in a 350 º F oven for about 45 minutes until the pumpkin is soft and tender.

Roasting the pumpkin pieces brings out their natural sweetness. This is what gives the puree such a fabulous flavor. Don’t boil it or you won’t get this benefit.

Once the pumpkin has cooked, allow it to cool and remove the skin with a knife. Cut the pumpkin into smaller pieces and place it in a food processor. Pulse until it has the consistency of canned pumpkin puree.

Pumpkins will end up either dry or wet, depending of the type. If too dry, add a bit of water and pulse some more.

If it is too wet, place the mixture in a sieve lined with cheesecloth and strain until you get a good consistency.

The taste of homemade fresh pumpkin puree is so much better than store bought. It’s also cheaper since one pumpkin gives you as much as 6-10 cups of puree and pumpkins are often on sale this time of the year.

This fresh pumpkin puree is gluten free, Paleo and also fits into the Whole30 Diet plan.

The puree keeps for about 3 days in the fridge, or freeze it for up to three months.

Tips for using fresh pumpkin puree

There are lots of ways to put this tasty puree to work. Here are some of my favorites:

1.Spoon some of it into your morning oatmeal for a fall fresh taste and creamy texture. This adds lots of vitamins to a protein rich breakfast.

2.Add fresh pumpkin puree to your plain applesauce. You’ll add a lovely additional taste and creaminess to a simple taste.

3.Use it in drinks. The warm soothing taste of pumpkin puree lends itself to being used in creamy drinks. This pumpkin pie martini is one option.

4. Add it to a morning smoothie. It’s smooth and healthy way to enjoy after a workout or as a breakfast on the go.

5. Add it to a chili recipe. You can add a few cups to give the dish a new earthy taste that is amazing. Try this pumpkin chili recipe.

6. Spread it on a bagel. Forget the cream cheese. Try a spoonful of pumpkin puree on an onion bagel for a whole new take on a morning bagel!

7. Add it to pancake batter. Using it in waffles is another idea for breakfast.

8. It’s curry time! Pumpkin puree adds a lovely rustic flavor to any curry recipe.

9. Top a Shepherd’s Pie. This turns the ordinary dessert into a Paleo creation.

10. And of course, use it to make all sorts of yummy desserts, from pumpkin pie to truffles.

Now it’s time to put this fresh pumpkin puree to use in your fall recipes!

How to use fresh pumpkin puree

Try one of these recipes:

If you would like a reminder of this recipe for fresh pumpkin puree, just pin this image to one of your cooking boards on Pinterest.

Admin note: This post for making fresh pumpkin puree first appeared on the blog in September of 2017. I have updated the post to add tips for using the puree as well as nutritional information and a video for your enjoyment.

Yield: 6 cups

Fresh Pumpkin Puree - How to Make this Fall Staple

Fresh pumpkin puree is simple to make and tastes so much better than the canned type.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

1 pie pumpkin

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 º F.

Scoop out the seeds of your pumpkin and set them aside to use later in other recipes.

Cut the pumpkin into big pieces and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Cook for 45 minutes and let the pumpkin slices cool.

Remove the skin of the pumpkin. It should be pretty soft and most of it will almost pull right off. Just use a knife to scrape off the rest of the skins.

Cut the pumpkin into smaller chunks and place them in a food process.

Pulse until the pumpkin has the typical puree consistency.

Depending on your type of pumpkin, it may be dry or quite moist. If it is too wet, put it into some cheesecloth and strain it. If it is too dry, just add a bit of water and pulse till smooth.

Use in all your favorite recipes.

Store in an air tight container for 3 days, or freeze for up to three months.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1 cup
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 54Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 53mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 0gSugar: 4gProtein: 1g

Nutritional information is approximate due to natural variation in ingredients and the cook-at-home nature of our meals.