Cooking with pumpkin

When it comes to cooking with pumpkin…good selection is key!

Get to buy only orange to yellow pumpkins as those are the ones with their flesh ready to eat.

While cooking with pumpkin it is important to note that leaves, fruit and flowers and seeds can all be used in the art of cooking.

Once a pumpkin is ripe, it can be used by boiling, baking or steamed. Regardless of the method you prefer…it will all taste good.

When steaming cut your pumpkin into two halves and remove the seeds and orange pulp.

You can cut it into small pieces and add minimal water and steam all through up to 50 minutes until tender.

You can go further and make a paste out of this tender soft pumpkin and use it in pies or biscuit.

If boiling…go ahead and halve your pumpkin and put in slight salted water and boil in high heat for only 25 minutes. This is ready to eat once cooled.

Pumpkin goes well with coriander, sage, thyme, rosemary and cured or deep fried meats.

In the case where you are making sweet dishes…pumpkin can be caramelized with honey or jaggery and a slice of lemon added to it like dessert. Cinnamon, vanilla and a pinch of nutmeg can add flavor to the pumpkin.

Lastly, when buying a pumpkin wedge from the supermarket, you are able to inspect the pumpkin and check out if it’s a worthy slice to use in your cooking.

Remember, keep away from  any pumpkin wedge that looks dry and  use it within a week  after purchase.

Pumpkins contains vitamin A, C and vitamin B-complex. Now that’s health the pumpkin way!