Just Another Reason for Pumpkin Season ! Yes, folks, it is that time of year again. Halloween is now over, Thanksgiving is almost here, your jack-o-lanterns have gone moldy, and you’ve got loads of pumpkins and other gourds lying around your house with no real purpose anymore.
This may have got you wondering what in the heck you can do with those pumpkins. You already know you can scoop out the insides and cook them, but, you just might be asking yourself if you can also eat them straight outta the pumpkin shell!
Can you eat raw pumpkin ?
Well, wonder no more, friends, because yes, you can eat pumpkin raw! No need to preheat the oven, prebake your pie crust, or slowly cook a bunch of veggies to go along with it. All you have to do is scoop and enjoy!
Pump the breaks on raw pumpkin (just for a moment!)
However, this may not actually be all that enjoyable. If you eat pumpkin guts directly out of the pumpkin, your mouth will be full of stringy, bitter, seed-filled mush. W don’t know about you, but that does not sound pleasant to us.
Sometimes, just the smell alone of raw, unseasoned pumpkin can be way too overwhelming to even think about eating.
Press puree and pump the jams!
So, if you decide to try raw pumpkin, we suggest either opting for canned, pre-pureed pumpkin or removing the seeds and pureeing it yourself! That way, your tongue won’t hate you forever! All you’ve gotta do is play your favorite autumn tunes and puree away!
But, if just eating pureed pumpkin doesn’t sound like your thing, we’ve compiled a list of other ways you can eat raw pumpkin, both sweet and savory! They can all be altered to be vegan friendly and kind on your wallet: mostly everything you’d need is already in your kitchen!
So, without further fuss, check out these 6 ways to enjoy your pumpkin raw!
6 awesome ways to enjoy your pumpkin raw
We’re going to guide you through two different ways to enjoy raw pumpkin, one savory and one sweet. Whichever you choose is up to you.
Most of us are familiar with pumpkin as an ingredient is sweet treats. So, we’ve come up with three awesome ways you can use your raw pumpkin to make something sweet, cool, and delicious!
Read also: Pumpkin VS Sweet Potato
1. Raw pumpkin pie
Now, don’t worry. We aren’t suggesting anything that’ll make you sick if you eat it raw. This pumpkin pie recipe is simply a new spin on an old classic with half the work involved!
All you’ll need for this one is some raw pumpkin puree (pumpkin pie filling would work fine, too – see our article on the difference between pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie filling!), your favorite pumpkin pie spices, sugar, a splash of vanilla extract, and your favorite fruits and nuts!
To make the crust, you’ll be grinding up walnuts, cashews, or another soft nut with some applesauce or apple butter so it’s all nice and combined. It should be quite thick and chunky, sort of similar to the consistency of a chewy granola bar. This will allow it to act as a crust for your pie!
For the filling, simply blend up your raw pumpkin with vanilla, spices, brown sugar, and a hint of salt! Once it’s all combined, you should have a soft, creamy filling to which you can add some roasted pumpkin seeds, dates, or nothing at all!
Once that’s all done, just spread your “crust” evenly onto a round baking pan, pour your filling on top, and stash it into the freezer for a few hours. After the “pie” has hardened, remove it from the freezer, slice it up, and enjoy!
Trust us, no one will ever realize your pumpkin pie is raw!
2. Raw pumpkin pudding
Similar to the raw pumpkin pie, our raw pumpkin pudding will contain many of your favorite Fall spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and even cardamom! Just gather them up, along with your pureed pumpkin, mix them together, pour in some maple syrup for sweetness, a splash of vanilla extract and a dash of salt, and blend!
Now comes the vegan or non-vegan option. In order to make this a pudding, the consistency must be bouncy and gelatinous. Normally, one would add gelatin powder to a mixture to get that consistency. If you aren’t vegan, this option is the way to go! If you are vegan, try out some chia seeds. Once chilled, the chia seeds will begin to form a gelatin-like substance that will make your pumpkin mush into pudding!
Serve it up however you’d like and eat!
3. Iced (raw) pumpkin spice latte
Finally, it’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for: a pumpkin spice latte you can make at home! As always, you’re gonna need some vanilla extract, pumpkin pie spices, salt, and of course, your pumpkin puree!
To sweeten the mix, we suggest opting for maple syrup, since the mixture will be cold. Sugar usually won’t break down well enough in a chilled liquid. And no, we haven’t forgotten the most crucial ingredient: coffeeeee! You can use espresso if you’d like, or just some leftover morning coffee!
Once you’ve gathered the ingredients, blend them all up, pour into a glass, plop in a couple of ice cubes, and sip! If you’d like the extra bit of fluffy sweetness, add some cool whip, whipped cream, or coconut cream (for vegans!) and add an extra dusting of cinnamon on top!
Sometimes, pumpkin can also be used to make savory dishes. In fact, many enjoy pumpkin soup as an alternative to carrot soup around the holidays!
4. Seasoned raw pumpkin puree or chunks
Perhaps the easiest for the options, all you’ve gotta do for this is chop up some pumpkin (or puree it), season it with a bit of salt, cayenne pepper, or even curry powder, and enjoy!
Since this option is so quick, it could make a great afternoon snack, or even a small appetizer for a (socially-distanced!) Fall gathering!
5. Fluffy raw pumpkin dip
Mmmm! Just the sound of that makes us hungry!
If you enjoy throwing dinner parties or simply love dip, why not make it pumpkin dip?! All you’ll need is your favorite savory seasonings, a brick of cream cheese (or a vegan substitute), onions, and of course, pumpkin puree! Just mix it all together and get dippin’!
Read Also:Can You Eat Raw Butternut Squash?
6. Cool raw pumpkin soup
Although cold soup may not sound like the most appetizing thing, we promise that it’s delicious! And, of course, there’s always the option to heat it up on the stove for a couple of minutes, anyway.
To make this raw soup, simply toss into the blender your pumpkin, savory spices, favorite soup veggies, and chicken broth (veggie broth or water also work fine) and blend! Right away, you’ll have a delicious soup that’s perfect for all kinds of weather!
