pumpkin-recipes

10 Easy-as-Pie Pumpkin Recipes

 

Most Americans think of pumpkin as a Halloween or Thanksgiving food, or maybe a fall spice now that “pumpkin spice” coffee has become a sign of autumn. It doesn’t have to be just baked into a sweet marshmallow-topped casserole or whipped into a frothy coffee drink, however. It’s a delicious and healthy vegetable that should (and can be) enjoyed year round.

Pumpkin is a type of squash, which are a staple year-round in most of the blue zones regions. The easiest and most affordable way to enjoy pumpkin year-round is to buy canned pumpkin puree at the grocery store. Different from pumpkin pie filling, the canned pumpkin that you find in groceries (Libby’s 100% pure organic pumpkin) is usually a blend of different squashes similar to butternut squash. (The round and orange pumpkins we carve into jack-o-lanterns are bred for beauty and are not good for cooking.)

Misnomers aside, canned pumpkin is delicious, affordable, and available year-round. And you can use it to make amazing recipes that are awesome and packed full of vitamins A and C. Butternut squash and kabocha squash (Japanese “pumpkin”) are also favorites in blue zones longevity hotspots, and are not too hard to find throughout the year.

Pumpkin Cranberry Oatmeal

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Whether it’s the end of November, mid-July or anytime in between, this Thanksgiving-inspired breakfast from the Blue Zones® Meal Planner brings all the nutrient-packed and pumpkin pie-tasty fun!

5-Minute Pumpkin Tahini Soup

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Paired with wilted kale and whole grain toast, this is a bright, flavorful, and nutritious meal from the Blue Zones® Meal Planner that will satisfy every month of the year.

Creamy Squash and Bean Soup

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All variations of squash that work for this recipe belong to the botanical family Cucurbitaceae, known for providing high levels of useful carotenoids.

One Bowl Vegan Pumpkin Bread

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You’ll only need one bowl for the perfect pumpkin loaf. Your final product is a soft loaf full of pumpkin and warm spices to which you can add nuts, dried fruit, or pumpkin seeds.

Pumpkin Pancakes

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Pumpkin pancakes pull together the warmth of cinnamon and sweetness of honey for a cozy combination.

Vegan Pumpkin Pasta

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The pumpkin sauce is creamy, dairy free, and delicious. Pair it with your favorite pasta shape!

Pumpkin Curry

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Smother fresh vegetables in a simple pumpkin curry sauce that’s full of authentic Indian flavors from the Blue Zones® Meal Planner.

Kabocha Squash Soba Noodle Bowl

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Kabocha squash is a popular ingredient in Okinawan cooking and is often called the Japanese pumpkin.

Maple Chili Butternut Squash

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This Maple Chili Butternut Squash adds the perfect amount of sugar and spice to any meal. Serve in hollowed out pumpkins for fun!

5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Pumpkin Curry Soup

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Snuggle up with a warm bowl of goodness, like this Thai-inspired pumpkin curry soup.

Squash: A Blue Zones Longevity Superfood

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Kabocha squash, or Japanese pumpkin, is popular in Okinawan cooking and is a good source of vitamins and toxin-removing fiber. All kinds of squash are grown and enjoyed in Ikaria, Greece, including butter squash and pumpkin-type squash. In the Nicoya region of Costa Rica, squash (often ayote or calabaza, similar to hard-shelled squash related to pumpkins or winter squash such as butternut, hubbard, or spaghetti squash) is a staple food that is often referred to as one of the “three sisters.”

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