Halloween has been and gone, which can only mean one thing – it’s time to get out there and snap up those on-sale pumpkins for some late Autumn treats at a low, low cost! Check out some of our favourite sweet and savoury recipes for some inspiration.
PUMPKIN PUREE
Cheap fruit and veg is such a fantastic thing to buy because there are so many ways to preserve it – and with pumpkins, there’s no better way to ensure you get their sweet, velvety texture throughout the year than by knocking up a batch of puree and freeing it for whenever you want it. This great recipe from Somewhat Simple is really easy, and makes a puree that’s perfect for pies, ice-creams and pastries.
PUMPKIN AND TOMATO SOUP
This soup from Stuffed Pepper is something a little different to the classic spiced pumpkin, but it’s packed full of vitamin C to really give your immune system a boost during the cold weather. Substitute the vegetable stock for chicken stock for a richer flavour and even more nutrition, and pair with a cheese toastie for ultimate comfort food!
PUMPKIN PIE
Pumpkin pie is the perfect autumn dessert, although if you’ve saved your puree it’s just as good on a drizzly spring afternoon to make you feel all warm and cosy. The colour of it is fantastic, and it retains the soft flavour of the pumpkin with a nice, buttery crust. We love the recipe over at Spotty Teapot – just replace the canned pumpkin with 400g of your own pumpkin puree for fresh, beautiful results.
We’ve also chosen a couple of loaves – one savoury, one sweet – so that you can enjoy a nice, dense slab of pumpkin-flavoured bread whenever you feel like it.
PUMPKIN CHEESE BREAD
This gorgeous pumpkin bread from Dessert by Candy incorporates Swiss cheese and pumpkin seeds for a really satisfying loaf that pairs just as well with a tomato soup as it does toasted with a thick layer of honey. Lightly spiced, it’s simply irresistible.
PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP BREAD
The subtle sweetness of pumpkin perfectly matches the dark chocolate in this indulgent cake from Bake Me Something Good, making it the ideal weekday loaf to have at home, either as an afternoon snack or warmed through as a treat when you get in from the cold and damp of November.
