How to Make Pumpkin Puree

Article by: Krissy Downey

When the leaves start to turn and the last of the warm weather disappears, pumpkin starts cropping up everywhere in sight. While canned pumpkin is a workhorse you can incorporate into both sweet and savory dishes, you can also make pumpkin puree from scratch to really add a pop of pumpkin flavor to your fall treats. It requires a little extra elbow grease, but we think that extra work is worth it for creamy, rich, pumpkin-y goodness.

How to Make Pumpkin Puree Like a Pro

Choose smaller pumpkins. Bigger isn’t better when it comes to pumpkins for puree. Small baking pumpkins like sugar pumpkins or pie pumpkins are less fibrous and contain less water than carving pumpkins, yielding a creamier, more flavorful puree.

Use Your Sharpest Knife. Pumpkins are tough to cut, so make sure your knife is super sharp. A sharp knife keeps things easy and, more importantly, safe. If your knives are all dull, try using a serrated knife to carefully saw through the pumpkin.

Don’t skip the sieve! Pushing the puree through a fine-mesh sieve is the most important step in our pumpkin puree recipe. It will remove any unwanted fibers that can be tough and chewy.

Roast the pumpkin seeds. One of the best parts of this whole process is being left with pumpkin seeds. They are delicious roasted with just salt, but you can jazz them up with any warm spices like cinnamon, paprika and even curry powder.

How to Use Pumpkin Puree

With any recipe, just replace canned pumpkin puree 1:1 with your homemade version.

What to Do with Pumpkin Puree

You’ve done all this work, now it’s time to make some next-level autumn treats.

Pumpkin desserts: The obvious choices are the classics: Pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread and even pumpkin cheesecake.

Savory pumpkin dishes: We’ll say yes to those any day, but we also love savory dishes that incorporate pumpkin. Pumpkin Lasagna Rolls and Curry pumpkin soup embrace fall flavors, making for warm, cozy dinners. We even get creative with unexpected uses like Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats and Garlic and Pumpkin Hummus.

How to Store Pumpkin Puree

Pumpkin puree keeps for up to four days in the refrigerator or up to three months in the freezer, according to Food Network’s on staff nutritionists, so you can make a few batches at the start of the season and have it ready to go when your cozy cravings kick in.

Pumpkin Puree Nutritional Benefits

According to Dana Angelo White, M.S., R.D., A.T.C., fresh pumpkin is filled with fiber, vitamins A and E, riboflavin, and minerals like iron and potassium. You will also find antioxidants beta-carotene and lutein in that deep orange flesh. Winter squash like pumpkin also boast amazing texture and mildly sweet flavor, lending it to both sweet and savory recipes.