When I was in Venice earlier this year, I went to this wine/tapas bar that made fresh italian tapas to sample with their vino. One such tapa that I absolutely fell in love with was a crostini with whipped ricotta, pumpkin puree, dusted with parmesan cheese, touch of salt & pepper. It was divine! I was never big pumpkin fan before but I have since converted and can't wait to make this simple rustic dish back here!
I've used canned pumpkin to make curry, and it's absolutely delicious! If you just substitute some of the coconut milk for the pumpkin, you get this wonderfully flavorful dish that just screams fall--and without all that hackneyed cinnamon!
Seems like we had this discussion a year ago. Some great ideas on that thread. My answer still holds. My dog loves fall..she gets the leftover pumpkin from fresh and canned. Seriously, she's already starting to stare at me.
Pumpkin cheesecake and bars are great. Fun addition to a ramen. Adding a little to Merrill's brother beans is delish. Don't overdo. More is hardly ever better.
I was also going to add something along this theme. A spoon or 2 of canned pumpkin is great to help fill up chubby dogs. It is also used to help regulate the digestive system.
1) Add into lentil soup and blend. Guests will taste something richer but generally be unable to guess what it is. Consider adding a bit of pomegranate molasses as well.
In keeping with the soup theme - a while back I wanted pumpkin tortellini but had none so I made wonton wrappers with pumpkin and parmesan, poached in a tomato-y basil-broth with some spinach and carrots and it was delicious. And now I want that.
Canned pumpkin just doesn't have the flavor of roasted butternut squash, so you'll want to use if for something that has a lot of bold flavors added to it. But stepping back a minute . . . . . canned pumpkin, though convenient and really great for its ability to add moisture to baked goods and its adaptability, is also rather expensive, certainly compared to roasted butternut squash. If I had extra on hand, I'd use it in muffins or quick bread or pumpkin bars (pumpkin pie filling over a short crust, preferably with a cream cheese custard layer in between) or save it in the freezer until I wanted to make one of the foregoing. ;o)
Hoard it. There's supposed to be a shortage again this year...
But, in all seriousness, I second (third, fourth?) the soup and pasta ideas. The flavor is enough of a blank canvas to lend itself to southwestern, Indian, Caribbean, etc. Try it with pork sausage and/or poultry seasoning with pasta.
If you want to stray a bit off the beaten path, use a vanilla custard base and make pumpkin ice cream (oatmeal cookie ice cream sandwiches anyone?!). Think of places you might use bananas (add to oatmeal, or waffles/pancake batter, yogurt) and try pumpkin instead.
pumpkin butter! Also, I've added many a spoonful of canned pumpkin to my morning oatmeal, along with a good glug of maple syrup-- it's basically pie for breakfast!
I made a baked pasta dish last night with pumpkin puree, sauteed mushrooms + finely chopped kale, thyme/sage/garlic topped with a white cheddar/parm combo and it was great! A pumpkin-y bechamel would have also been tops.
I also second the soup recommendation and love the freeze in ice cube tray idea!
byb - your baked pasta dish reminds me of a butternut squash lasagna with hazelnuts and either traditional Italian or Swiss cheese. could substitute pumpkin and it would be the same delicious.
Pancakes! Or waffles work too. Curried soup with coconut milk and pumpkin puree would be delcious. But pancakes for sure. Then you can put maple butter on top and just die of happiness.
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http://www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/recipes-cookbooks/recipes/a925/ina-garten-pumpkin-cupcake-recipe/
Pumpkin cheesecake and bars are great. Fun addition to a ramen. Adding a little to Merrill's brother beans is delish. Don't overdo. More is hardly ever better.
I'm no hoarder. My place is too small for me to be buying "tons" of canned goods.
2) Ravioli filling, with sage.
But, in all seriousness, I second (third, fourth?) the soup and pasta ideas. The flavor is enough of a blank canvas to lend itself to southwestern, Indian, Caribbean, etc. Try it with pork sausage and/or poultry seasoning with pasta.
If you want to stray a bit off the beaten path, use a vanilla custard base and make pumpkin ice cream (oatmeal cookie ice cream sandwiches anyone?!). Think of places you might use bananas (add to oatmeal, or waffles/pancake batter, yogurt) and try pumpkin instead.
I also second the soup recommendation and love the freeze in ice cube tray idea!
freeze some in ice cube trays or plastic containers for future use