Boiled Pumpkin
Pumpkin together with the giant pumpkin
seeds can be boiled, then seasoned with
a little butter and salt and pepper, but it isn’t a very interesting
dish. To prepare boiled pumpkin for other uses, place the cut up,
unpeeled or peeled, and seeded pumpkin in boiling, salted water to
cover. Simmer over medium heat until very tender when pierced with a
fork but not falling apart, 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the size of
the cuts and the variety of pumpkin. Drain well. Peel if necessary. You
can now proceed for simple vegetable recipes.
Steamed Pumpkin
Another method prior simple vegetable
recipes, place the cut up, peeled or unpeeled, and seeded, pumpkin in a
steamer basket or a large colander. Steam, covered, over simmering water
until very tender, 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the size of the cuts
and variety of the pumpkin. Peel if necessary.
Microwaved pumpkins
Place 1 pound cut up , peeled or unpeeled
and with giant pumpkin seeds pumpkin in a microwaveable dish. Add 2 tablespoons water,
cover and vent. Microwave on high for 8 to 10 minutes. Let stand for 5
minutes before uncovering. Peel if necessary.
If you are going to use a 4 or 5 pound sugar pumpkin as a serving
container for soup or stew, cut out a lid, leaving the stem on. Scoop
out all the seeds and fibrous material. Brush the inside of the pumpkin
with olive oil or melted butter. Microwave on high for 6 to 8 minutes,
then let stand for 2 to 3 minutes. The flesh will be tender, but the
shell will not be too soft. Fill the hot shell with the soup or hot
stew and serve at once, cocking the lid on the top.
I have tried cooking simple pumpkin soup recipes in the pumpkin shell
in the oven many times. So much depends on the pumpkin itself, and more
times than I care to think about I have opened the oven door to find my
soup leaking out all over the oven floor; and once the whole pumpkin
had collapsed in on itself, long before the allotted baking time had
passed. I don’t know if you have ever tried to clean up 2 quarts of
boiling hot soup that is running out of the oven, but I have no desire
to repeat the experience. Since that time I have put cooked soup or
stew together with cooked pumpkin at the last minute and have been very
satisfied with the result. The presentation is the same, and only those
who have been in the kitchen will know the difference!
Munchkins and Jack Be Little are delicious individual serving pumpkins.
Cut off the tops with the stems, like little lids. Scoop out the seeds
and any fibers. Brush the insides with melted butter. Season inside
well with salt and pepper. Microwave on high for 5 minutes for one
pumpkin, 7 to 8 minutes for two pumpkins. Let stand for 5 minutes
before eating. Replace the lids, serve as is with more butter or fill
with vegetable gumbo, green rice, or anything else you like.
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