7 Savory Ways to Use Pumpkin Spice
There’s so much more to pumpkin pie spice blends than lattes and pies.
Ryan Dausch
Pumpkin spice lattes -- and muffins, oatmeal, pancakes ... the list goes on -- are ubiquitous with fall, but there’s more to the spice blend than the usual sweet suspects. The warming flavors of pumpkin pie spice makes it a natural addition to hearty meat dishes, spicy Caribbean and Middle Eastern cuisines, and yes, pumpkin.
While there’s no one true recipe for the spice blend, it’s usually made up of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, allspice and cloves (try this recipe out if you want to make your own). Let that little jar of pumpkin spice blend do double duty in the kitchen with these savory ideas.
Moroccan Chicken with Couscous (pictured above)
Mid-week Moroccan fare is made easy when you substitute pumpkin pie spice for the Moroccan spice blend ras el hanout, which normally consists of cardamom, clove, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, paprika, mace, nutmeg, peppercorn and turmeric.
Jerk seasoning is the flavor base for a good jerk marinade and includes warming spices, like cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger, so it’s not a surprise that pumpkin pie spice can be used as a substitute. Jerk chicken gets its signature kick from Scotch bonnet peppers, which are hard to find outside of the Caribbean and can be substituted with habaneros.
Teri Lyn Fisher
Sunny’s extra-hearty version of chili showcases two types of beef, ground and cubed chuck, as well as butternut squash, which pairs perfectly with chili powder, cumin, oregano and the warming spices in pumpkin pie spice.
This classic appetizer is a breeze to make, and pumpkin pie-spiced honey drizzled over the top really adds something special.
Johnny Miller
They key to these weeknight pita plates is to thinly slice flank steak before cooking. Pro tip: slicing meat against the grain helps create a tender, rather than chewy, bite.
Todd Plitt, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved
Pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice seems like an obvious combo, but this time the duo make a savory appearance in hummus which is perfect for autumn parties.
Pumpkin pie spice adds in the homey, comforting flavors to this better-for-you version of creamed spinach.
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