Cook Pumpkin from the Patch — Fall Fest

Related To:

Baked Pumpkin Rice Pudding

Rice_Pudding_0046.tif

Food Stylist: Paul Grimes Prop Stylist: Marina Malchin,Food Stylist: Paul Grimes Prop Stylist: Marina Malchin

Photo by: David Malosh

David Malosh

Pull on your first sweater of the season and the craving for all things pumpkin spice immediately sets in. This traditional flavor hinges on seasonality, influencing our lattes, air fresheners and baked goods as soon as the air turns crisp. Though pumpkins from the patch may lead to stoop decoration, they never seem to reach the table. We use canned store-bought pumpkin year after year and pie after pie.

The canned option is convenient, often coming with spice and without the daunting task of dismembering a whole pumpkin. Though getting down to the flesh of a pumpkin — especially that of the smaller, sweeter sugar pumpkin — is a rewarding undertaking. This fall, do more with pumpkin than carving grinning jack-o'-lanterns. Slice it into chunks, use it for its seeds or transform it into a homemade Pumpkin Puree, like Alton's. These recipes using fresh pumpkin are a great place to start.

  • Here's a party trick: For Food Network Magazine's Pumpkin Queso Fundido, bake the classic Mexican cheese dip inside a hollowed pumpkin for a festive fall appetizer.
  • Spicy Pumpkin and Collards by Food Network Magazine bakes collard greens, breadcrumbs and chile peppers into pumpkin until soft and tender.
  • Baked in a hollowed pumpkin, Food Network Magazine's Baked Pumpkin Rice Pudding (pictured above) relies on the flavors of cinnamon, vanilla and molasses.
  • The classic pumpkin bread recipe may rely on the canned stuff, but Alton's Pumpkin Bread changes it up, folding in shredded pumpkin and toasted pumpkin seeds for added crunch.
  • Food Network Magazine's Apple-Pumpkin Brown Betty makes the traditional fruity dessert with Gala apples, homemade crumbs and maple syrup with rum.

More pumpkin recipes from friends and family:

Napa Farmhouse 1885: Thai Pumpkin and Coconut Soup

Feed Me Phoebe: Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Soup
The Heritage Cook: Chile-Pumpkin Hummus
In Jennie's Kitchen: Pumpkin Scones
Cooking With Elise: Hearty Pumpkin Pasta
And Love It Too: Paleo Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

Next Up

10 Savory Ways to Use Pumpkin This Fall

There's more to pumpkin than pie and lattes.

5 Pumpkin-Centric Dishes to Make This Fall

Check out Food Network's top-five pumpkin recipes to find inspired ideas for using this fall ingredient in lunch, dinner and dessert dishes.

Save the Seeds After Carving Your Pumpkin — Here's What to Do with Them

Learn three new ways to flavor this fall-favorite snack.

All the Ways to Eat Pumpkin Seeds

Whether or not you've been carving grinning pumpkins for your home's stoop, munching on pumpkin seeds is something you have to do this season.

Pumpkin Spice (and Everything Nice)

These pumpkin recipes should be on tap all season long.

The 5 Best Recipes for Cooking with Fresh Pumpkin

Use fresh pumpkin for a whole lot more than carving. Bring it into your favorite fall recipes, whether it's for dinner or dessert.

6 Ways to Eat Pumpkin for Breakfast

Pumpkin is the unofficial mascot of fall. Get your fix at breakfast.

How to Store Leftover Pumpkin Puree

Is it okay to store the whole can in the fridge? (Because we’ve all done it.)

What's New