Sasha Hill talks about how, when the season changes, so does our choice for food. With the autumn season and Halloween approaching, she talks about what you can create with your pumpkin scraps. From delicious vegetarian meals to refreshing skin care, this is how you can cut down on your waste this season.
Pumpkins, commonly transformed into jack-o'-lanterns during Halloween, are a versatile fruit belonging to the squash family. While carving pumpkins and preparing seasonal treats like pumpkin pie are enjoyable traditions, many are left wondering: what shall I do with the rest of the pumpkin after Halloween? To reduce unnecessary waste, here are several creative and sustainable ways to repurpose your pumpkins after the festivities.
A photo of the types of jack-o-lanterns. Photo credits: Merriam Webster - The History of ‘Jack-O’-Lantern’
Pumpkins are an incredibly versatile ingredient, suitable for breakfast, lunch, dinner and desserts. Below are some easy-to-follow recipes that make use of pumpkin puree (simply mashed, baked pumpkin with a touch of salt) and other cupboard staples.
Breakfast
Ingredients:
● 425g pumpkin puree (frozen prior)
● 3 cups milk
● 1 tsp vanilla extract
● ½ cup yoghurt
● 5 pinches ground cinnamon
● 4 biscuits (digestives, shortbread etc.)
Method:
Freeze the pumpkin puree one day prior to making the smoothie
Add the milk, yoghurt, vanilla extract and pumpkin puree into a blender
Pour into your cup and sprinkle the top with crumbs
Ingredients:
● 2 ¼ cups milk
● 1 cup pumpkin puree
● ⅓ cup honey
● 3 tbsp coffee powder
● 2 tbsp sugar
● 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
● 2 cups oats
● 8 tsp pumpkin seeds
● ¾ cup yoghurt
Method:
Combine the milk, pumpkin, honey, coffee powder, sugar and vanilla into a cup and put it into airtight containers
Combine the oats and pumpkin seeds and pour onto the mixture and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours
Add yoghurt on top of the oats
Ingredients:
● 1 cup all-purpose flour
● 3 tbsp sugar
● 2 tsp baking powder
● 2 tsp cinnamon
● 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
● ½ tsp kosher salt
● 2 bananas (or eggs)
● ¾ pumpkin puree
● ¾ cup milk
● ¼ oil
Method:
Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, pumpkin puree and salt
Whisk the eggs, pumpkin puree, milk and oil and add it into the previous mixture
Pour the batter onto the pan and cook them till lightly brown
A photo of the different types of pumpkins. Photo credits: Kikkoman - Guide to pumpkins and squash
Lunch/ Dinner:
Pumpkin Carbonara
Ingredients:
● 1 cup pumpkin puree,
● ½ cup parmesan (or vegetarian alternative)
● 3 large egg yolks
● Spaghetti
● Facon (or real bacon)
Method:
1. Whisk together the pumpkin puree, cheese, egg yolks and black pepper
2. Boil the pasta, cut the facon and fry until crispy
3. Drain the pasta, add the sauce and facon
A photo of pumpkin carbonara. Photo credits: Delish - Pumpkin Carbonara recipe
Pumpkin Soup
Ingredients:
● 1 pumpkin
● 1 onion
● 2 garlic cloves
● 3 cups of vegetable stock
● 1 cup water
● ½ cup cream
Method:
1. Cut the pumpkin and add it into a pot with the onion, garlic and broth
2. Let it come to a boil, then bring to a simmer until the pumpkin is tender and blend it
3. Add cream and season it with salt and pepper
Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
Ingredients:
● 3 tbsp oil
● Macaroni
● 2 tbsp butter
● 2 tbsp flour
● 2 cups milk
● 2 cups cheese
Method:
1. Boil pasta
2. Melt butter and add flour, in another bowl, whisk together milk and pumpkin puree and add it to the original mixture.
3. Stir until sauce thickens
4. Mix the sauce with the pasta, add cheese
Pumpkin dip
Ingredients:
● 226g cream cheese,
● ½ cups shredded cheese
● ½ cups pumpkin puree
● ⅓ chopped toasted pumpkin seeds
● 4 slices facon
● 3 green onions
● ½ tsp of salt
● ⅓ tsp ground cinnamon
Method:
1. Fry the facon and green onions
2. Blend all the other ingredients and pour it in a bowl
3. Add the facon and green onion on top
Desserts:
Pumpkin seeds
Simply roast the pumpkin seeds with a pinch of salt!
Pumpkin Smores Cookies
Ingredients:
● 2 tbsp unsalted butter
● 300g all-purpose flour
● 2 tsp pumpkin puree
● 1 tsp salt
● ½ tsp baking powder
● ½ tsp baking soda
● 1 banana (or egg yolk)
● 215g brown sugar
● 4 chocolate bars
● 10 digestive biscuits
● Marshmallows
Method:
1. Whisk flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda while melting the butter in a pan
2. Add banana (or egg yolk), sugar, pumpkin puree and sugar to the butter and whisk it
3. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir
4. Chop some chocolate bars and digestives, add to the mixture, refrigerate until chilled
5. Scoop it out and arrange it on a parchment lined baking sheet and put it in a preheat oven of 375 degrees
6. Continue baking until puffed and golden brown
7. Let it cool and enjoy
Pumpkin Pie
Ingredients:
● 400g pumpkin puree
● 1 cup heavy cream
● ¾ cups sugar
● 3 large bananas (or eggs)
● 1 tsp vanilla extract
● 1 tsp cinnamon
● ½ tsp salt
● ½ tsp cloves
● ½ tsp ground ginger
● ¼ tsp nutmeg
Method:
1. Whisk all the ingredients together while preheating the oven to 325 degrees
2. Pour the mixture onto a greased baking tray and bake it for 1 hour
3. Refrigerate until set
A photo of a pumpkin pie. Photo credits: Delish - Pumpkin Pie
Skincare
Pumpkins provide many benefits for your skin. It hydrates, exfoliates, provides antioxidants, improves skin complexion and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. By creating your own skincare, you can understand exactly what you are putting on your skin!
Face mask
Ingredients:
● Pumpkin
● Honey
● Lemon juice
● Pumpkin seeds
Method:
1. Blend all ingredients together
2. Apply on skin for around 10 mins and wash off gently
Body scrub
Ingredients:
● 1 cup sugar
● 2 tbsp pumpkin puree
● 2 tbsp avocado oil
● ½ tsp ground cinnamon
Method:
1. Add all the ingredients
2. Store in the fridge until ready to use
3. Apply when in the shower and rinse well
A photo of pumpkin body scrub. Photo credit: Delicious Obsessions - Pumpkin Scrub
If there are any leftover pumpkins, the best thing to do is compost it. Decomposed pumpkin releases nutrients and water into the soil and improves its structure. In Illinois, a recycling and composting nonprofit, Scarce, collects pumpkins after Halloween. Since the start of their project, the organisation has nearly released 12,000 gallons of water back into the state’s soil.
By using these tips to repurpose pumpkins in your kitchen, skincare routine, or garden, you can enjoy the full benefits of this seasonal fruit while minimising waste.
About the Author: Sasha is an Environment and Economics student with a love for the outdoors, movies, and spending time with friends and family.
Comments