Pumpkins: As Food

Pumpkins are a squash species. Many varieties of pumpkins can be eaten. Most people in the United States know about pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread, but how else can you eat pumpkins?

Savory Ways to Eat Pumpkins

Baked
There are plenty of recipes online, but the basic concept is this:
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1. Clean the pumpkin.
2. Cut off the stem.
3. Scoop out the seeds and any stringy parts.
4. Cut a small pumpkin in half or medium pumpkins into quarters or eighths. (Some people like to sprinkle oil and/or seasoning on the flesh.)
5. Put about an inch of water into a baking dish.
6. Lay the pumpkin pieces cut side down in the water. (Some people like to cover the pan to keep in the steam.)
7. Bake at 350° F until a fork easily pierces through the skin. 

Curry
If you grew up in the US, you might not immediately associate pumpkin with curry, but the firm flesh and adaptable flavor make it a good choice for adding another colorful vegetable to your plate. This recipe from Thai Table looks good.

Stew
The firm and colorful flesh of pumpkins make them a good addition to stews. You can use chunks of pumpkin instead of potatoes in just about any hearty stew. Or, like this recipe on An Italian in My Kitchen, you can use potatoes and pumpkins together.

Sweet Ways to Eat Pumpkins
This is the easy one. Recipes for using pumpkins in sweet dishes are all over the internet. Here are some categories to get you started looking.
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• Bread
• Brownies
• Cake
• Cheesecake
• Cookies
• Granola
• Ice cream
• Muffins
• Pancakes
• Pie