Figuring out how to boil pumpkin the right way can be a surprisingly tricky task. If you want tasty results, you’ll have to do a little more than simply throwing your pumpkin into a pot of hot water. Here’s the right way to boil pumpkin so you end up with a delicious finished product.
Contents
How to Boil Pumpkin (Recipe)
Equipment
- Large spoon
- Large knife
- Large pot
Ingredients
- 1 pc Pumpkin
- Water
- ½ teaspoon Salt
Instructions
- Lay your pumpkin on a clean cutting board and begin by slicing it lengthwise so you have two halves. Use your large spoon to dig the seeds out of each half.
- Use your knife to cut the top portion off each half, removing the stem and skin. Proceed to use your knife and carefully peel the skin completely off of both halves.
- Cut each half into small chunks, no more than 2” long and 2” thick. Cutting them as evenly as possible will help ensure a quick and even cooking process.
- Place the pieces into a large pot and cover with water. Place the lid onto the pot and bring to a boil. Add a ½ teaspoon of salt to the water once boiling. Boil for approximately 25 to 30 minutes.
Notes
Nutritional Information
Pumpkin is a very delicious treat that can be turned savory or sweet. In the case of boiled pumpkin, you’ll find the nutrition facts to be quite impressive. There are about 30 calories in 1 cup of pumpkin. That makes it a very low-calorie food. However, it’s also high in protein and fiber, which makes it quite filling.Figuring Out How Long to Boil Pumpkin
On average, a whole pumpkin cut up and placed into a pot it will need to be boiled for about 30 minutes to achieve complete doneness. However, slightly smaller pumpkins that result in fewer pieces won’t need as long. Likewise, if you cut your pumpkin into smaller pieces, they may cook a few minutes faster.
You can check the readiness of your boiled pumpkin with the simple “fork test.” This test is easily done using any dinner fork. Simply remove the lid from the pot and use a fork to poke into one of the pumpkin pieces. If the fork inserts easily and the piece feels nice and tender, it’s done boiling. Make sure you poke all the way through to the center to ensure it is completely boiled through.
If you’re still unsure, you can test a couple of the other pieces that are sitting in different locations throughout the pot. If any aren’t quite ready yet, replace the lid and give the pumpkin a few more minutes.
Helpful Tips & Suggestions
You can enjoy boiled pumpkin on its own just as it comes out of the pot. Simply drain the water from the pumpkin and serve. Of course, you can also enjoy boiled pumpkin with a few other additions to really bring out the flavor.
Obviously, one of the most popular things to do with boiled pumpkin is puree it. Pureed pumpkin is basically mashed pumpkin, which can also be enjoyed on its own. You can season it to really liven up the flavor, using basic table salt or incorporating some spices into the mix.
Pureed pumpkin can also make a pumpkin spread or even incorporated into a dish like a pumpkin lasagna. Endless possibilities also bring pumpkin bread and seasonal dishes like pies to mind. When boiled and pureed with other ingredients (like onion and garlic), you can even turn your pumpkin into a delicious soup.
No matter what you are turning your pumpkin into, though, there are some tips worth following during the preparation stage to make sure everything goes smoothly. First, it’s always smart to wash your pumpkin. Even though you’ll be peeling off the skin, the knife will touch the outside part you will be discarding and the inner portion you will later eat. Washing will ensure any leftover dirt or other particles don’t get into your food.
Next, be mindful of the sharp blade as you cut and especially as you peel your pumpkin. For the peeling portion, it may help to use a fruit and vegetable peeler, which is specially designed to help minimize accidental cuts and scrapes against your skin. These peelers also allow you to finish removing the pumpkin skin in record time.
As a final tip, be sure that you are mindful of all the steps in cutting the pumpkin. Cutting the pumpkin in half doesn’t just allow you to easily remove the seeds, it also gives you a flat surface onto which you can lay the pumpkin as you slice it up afterward. Remember to put safety first and you’ll be enjoying your boiled pumpkin in no time!
Eddy
Nice – clear and concise – now to test 🙂