8 Creative Pumpkin Recipes for the Holidays

Pumpkin. It’s sweet in a pie and savory in a stew. It perks up a salad and gives your morning oatmeal that little something extra. Pumpkin is a healthy ingredient that can be added to everything from sweet and sour to mac and cheese to creme brulee. Some superbly creative chefs from around the country came up with these amazing pumpkin recipes to share and inspire. Which ones will you try?

Sweet and Sour Pumpkin

Ingredients

1 sugar pie or cheese pumpkin (not the jack-o-lantern variety) – sub with butternut squash
vegetable oil for frying
2 cups white vinegar
1 cup honey
1 cup pumpkin seeds, toasted and salted
salt

Spice Mixture for Finishing

coriander seeds
sea salt
black peppercorn

Directions

Peel the pumpkin with a knife and remove all seeds.
Cut the pumpkin flesh in segments, approximately 3/4 inch thick and 2 inches wide.
Heat oil to coat the bottom of a saute pan and sear the pumpkin segments on both sides until brown.
Remove all excess oil from the pan.
Lower the flame and add the vinegar, honey and a about a teaspoon of salt.
When the liquid is fully absorbed, the pumpkin should be removed from the stove and refrigerated for later use.
Grind the coriander seeds, sea salt and black peppercorn in a spice grinder.
Serve the sweet and sour pumpkin cold or at room temperature. Top with pumpkin seeds and sprinkle lightly with the spice mixture.

Recipe courtesy of Melissa Muller Daka, Chef and Owner of EOLO: Sicilia A Tavola, New York City.

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Fred H.

7:39AM PST on Jan 1, 2013

Thank you Ann, for Sharing this!

January 1
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Anne G.

10:34PM PST on Dec 1, 2012

The pumpkin Mac and Cheese sounds good, but I think I'll substitute gouda for the American cheese, never understood what that stuff was good for. I love pumpkin and its always nice to find new ways to enjoy it.

December 1
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Harshiita S.

5:42AM PST on Nov 23, 2012

thanks

November 23
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Dana W.

10:01PM PST on Nov 20, 2012

I wonder if you could substitute sweet potatos for the pumpkin?

November 20
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Teresa W.

6:19AM PST on Nov 19, 2012

thank you

November 19
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Anne P.

2:46PM PST on Nov 4, 2012

Can't wait to try the pumpkin mac & cheese! I don't eat dairy so will replace the cow's milk with coconut milk beverage, and the cheddar cheese with Daiya. Thanks for the recipe!

November 4
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Kate B.

8:25PM PDT on Nov 3, 2012

My mouth is still watering for those pumpkin pie bites, but by the time I read the ingredient list, the rather lengthy list of cut the crap style of product pushing decided I'll just visit my local bakery, have to get there early though, usually sold out by 9:30 a.m.