WHAT TO DO WITH PUMPKIN?
Pumpkin is the new watermelon. Heidi Klum is surely already busy scraping one out for Halloween. I prefer to make soup from it, or eat it as fries from the oven.
This orange vegetable keeps you skinny, baby. You can eat as much as you want. A pumpkin is full of fiber - so it gives you a quick feeling of fullness, and has very few calories. About 40 per serving (two generous scoops).
More benefits? Certainly!
– Pumpkin contains a lot of vitamin C which helps improve your immune system. You definitely need that for the upcoming cold days.
– Pumpkin is good for your skin and protects against the sun. It is of course no substitute for sunscreen, but it helps a bit. Pumpkin does the same as carrots: good for your eyes.
Cleaning such a thing is a bit of a (nasty) job, but I will give you three of my favorite recipes.
This is my favorite, Thai pumpkin soup
What do you need and how do you make it
- 1 pumpkin
- 1 stock cube
- 2 red onions
- coriander
- lime
- a spoonful of red curry paste
- a generous splash of coconut milk
- coconut oil
Peel the pumpkin and chop it into pieces. Do the same with the red onions. Put some coconut oil in the pan and sauté the onions. Once they are a bit translucent, you can add the pumpkin. Stir for a bit and add some pepper and salt. Then add 1 liter of boiling water with the stock cube. Put the lid on the pan, turn the heat low and let it simmer (about 15 minutes). When the pumpkin pieces are soft, you can use the immersion blender. Once it has become a smooth mixture, add a splash of coconut milk and a spoonful of red curry. Blend again and then taste. Add more coconut milk to taste, or maybe a bit more water if you find the consistency too thick. Done is Kees. Pour the soup into bowls, sprinkle a handful of coriander on top and squeeze a wedge of lime over it.
Pumpkin fries
What do you need and how do you make it
- 1 pumpkin
- 1 olive oil
- sea salt
- cayenne pepper and thyme
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.
This is all very easy. Cut the pumpkin into fries, but leave the skin on. Put the fries in a bowl and drizzle with plenty of olive oil, the herbs, and sea salt. Mix everything well so that everything is coated with olive oil. Place the fries on a baking sheet lined with baking paper and bake them until crispy and cooked in 30 minutes.
Pumpkin Cupcakes
You can also go the sweet route of course. It does become a bit less healthy, you understand that, but these cupcakes are delicious. Just take a look here at the recipe from Chicks Love Food. Great to make on a Sunday.
