It is almost the end of October, which means Halloween costumes are coming together and spooky candy is everywhere. It also means that is time to carve a pumpkin into a scary Jack-O-lantern! Pumpkin carving is one of my favorite fall activities and I must admit, I sometimes get carried away with more than one creation. With multiple pumpkins come a lot of pumpkin guts. Every year, as my awareness about food waste increases, it gets harder and harder to just throw away those brightly colored insides. So, this year I decided to do something about it. I found a way to bake with pumpkin guts and roast the seeds into a yummy topping for yogurt, salads, oatmeal and just about anything else that needs a crunch. This way you can use every part of your pumpkin, save money and help reduce food waste!
The first and most traditional use of the inside of a pumpkin is to bake the seeds. I played around with a pumpkin pie spice to create a fall-inspired, crunchy snack. If you are looking for a more traditional pumpkin seed recipe, simple mix in melted butter and add one tablespoon sea salt. This will create seeds perfect for salads or a yummy soup addition!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups pumpkin seeds (one or two pumpkins worth)
- 3 tablespoons butter or ghee, melted
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ginger powder
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon allspice
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 F.
- Wash pumpkin seeds in a colander to remove any pumpkin flesh and pat dry.
- Place the seeds in a bowl and mix with the melted butter.
- Mix cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, all spice and sea salt in a small bowl.
- Sprinkle over the seeds and mix well.
- Spread the seeds out on a rimmed cookie sheet and place in the oven.
- Roast 30-45 minutes, mixing with a spatula every 10 minutes.
- Sprinkle with additional salt or maple syrup to taste.
After preparing the pumpkin seeds, you will be left with just the pumpkin insides, also referred to as the guts (very fitting for this time of year). What most people don’t know is you can actually eat this part of the pumpkin and it is quite delicious when used in baked goods. Additionally, the guts are filled with beneficial fiber, potassium magnesium and other minerals. The key is to chop the pumpkin guts up a bit before using in the recipe. See below for a delicious pumpkin gut recipe, perfect for your upcoming Halloween party!
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons nutmeg
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 eggs, beaten
- 1 cup avocado oil
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 cups fresh pumpkin guts
- 1 cup chopped pecans, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Grease two 9x5 loaf pans well, then dust with flour.
- Use your fingers and a pair of scissors to separate the pumpkin guts, making sure they'll be able to mix into the batter.
- Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, soda and salt in large mixing bowl.
- Add eggs, oil, water and pumpkin. Stir until you have a smooth batter.
- If using pecans, you can mix the nuts in now, or sprinkle them on top once you pour the batter into the loaf pans.
- Pour into prepared pans.
- Bake 1 hour, and check for doneness by inserting a wooden skewer into the center of the loaf.
- If it comes out clean, your loaves are done. If not, bake them longer, checking every 5 minutes.
- Cool slightly in the pans (about 10 minutes) then take out of pans to let them cool on a rack.
Looking for a good pumpkin? Check out the Jackson Whole Grocer, which has an amazing array of fun pumpkins for eating and decorating!