Homemade Pumpkin Puree
I am a lover of all things decorating with pumpkins this time of year. My favorite ones are the ugly ones, the warty, misshapen, weird pumpkins. I just love the perfect imperfectness of them. Each year, I end up purchasing these outcast pumpkins and squash every time I go to the grocery store. In my area, Sprouts has by far the best ugly pumpkin selection.
But when Autumn winds down, what do you do with these extra pumpkins and squash? I hate just throwing them away or composting them. I finally decided to try my hand at making pumpkin puree. And guess what? I should’ve done it years ago. It was SO easy and only two ingredients, roasted pumpkin and water. That’s it. The most complicated part was trying to keep from cutting myself with my knife while cutting the pumpkins in half.
Homemade Pumpkin Puree
Equipment
- baking sheet
- Food Processor or Blender
- parchment paper or silicone baking mat
Ingredients
- 2 medium pumpkins 3-7lbs
- water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Cut the top off each pumpkin and then cut in half. Scoop out the inside of the pumpkin, seeds and guts. Place on a lined baking sheet. It doesn't matter if the inside of the pumpkin is facing up or facing down. Place in oven for 45 minutes.
- You will know the pumpkins are finished roasting when the skins bubble away from the meat of the pumpkin. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before handling.
- Once pumpkins are cooled, peel the skin off and place the meat of the pumpkins inside a food processor or blender.
- Begin blending and add 1 Tbsp of water at a time until the pumpkin becomes a smooth puree. Don't add water too quickly, you don't want the puree to be soggy. You want it to be a thick paste.
- Once the puree reaches desired consistency, place in a container. The puree can be kept in the fridge for up to a week or freeze for up to a year. You can also can it.
Have you tried your hand at homemade pumpkin puree? If you haven’t, you have to! Not only is it super easy, but it is completely pure and free of preservatives and additives. And in my opinion, it is tastier than store bought puree.
Hope y’all are having an amazing week and if you are in the United States, Happiest of Thanksgivings. Stay safe, be kind, and hug your loved ones.
