Pumpkin belongs to melons and gourds, so its closest “relatives” are zucchini, cucumbers, and, of course, melons and watermelons. Pumpkins exist not only edible, but those that are used to make various vessels and even musical instruments. Although, of course, today jugs of pumpkin are more likely souvenirs than household items.
There are quite a lot of pumpkin varieties in the world . The smallest of them give fruits weighing about a kilogram, and the "classic" pumpkins, which we used to see in American films about the celebration of Halloween, can reach a mass of up to 200 kilograms.
Pumpkin is used in cooking quite widely, due to its taste, as well as the presence of nutrients. The most delicious and healthy fruits with bright orange pulp, as they contain a lot of carotene. A variety of pumpkin dishes are served in the form of appetizers and salads, soups are cooked from it, second courses are prepared and, of course, delicious desserts.
For example, for salads this fruit can be used in raw, baked or boiled form. But any dishes of pumpkin begin to cook by cleansing it of seeds, fibers and peel. However, if you plan to bake a pumpkin, it is better to leave the peel and cut it off later, when the fruit is ready.
Round pumpkin is cut like a watermelon into slices. Then clean the seeds and, if necessary, cut off the peel. If the pumpkin resembles a pear in shape, then first it is cut from both ends, then peeling the peel, and then, cutting the fruit into quarters, peeling the seeds.
If pumpkin dishes involve the use of baked pulp, then the slices are placed in the oven for about half an hour. Cook the pulp, cutting it into cubes. Cooking time - 15 minutes.
In salads, pumpkin goes well with apples, honey, nuts, carrots. You can also cook salads with a spicy taste from it, adding tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, pickled cucumbers and a little horseradish or garlic for piquancy.
It is better to season such salads with vegetable oil. But pumpkin use is not recommended, so as not to “clog” the taste of vegetables.
The first pumpkin dishes are also quite diverse. It can be added to any vegetable soups, but the most interesting option is pumpkin soup puree. It can be prepared with various additives - rice, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots. Or you can make a sweet soup by adding raisins or fresh plums.
Pumpkin main dishes are also varied , recipes of which can be found in abundance on various culinary sites. It is added to vegetable stews, stews, various casseroles and sauces are made from it. An effective dish can be prepared using the pumpkin itself, for example, beef stew with vegetables, as a "dish". For this, the fruit must be washed well, but not cleaned. Then you need to cut off the “lid” on one side and clean out the seeds, as well as part of the pulp that will go to prepare the dish. Fry the meat, then add vegetables (potatoes, carrots, onions, peppers, pumpkin and any others) and stew a little. At the end, you can add tomatoes or tomato sauce. Grease the prepared pumpkin with oil from the outside, fill the stew and pour a little broth, cover with a lid from the cut portion, and bake in the oven for about two hours.
A simple and original Mexican pumpkin recipe can be used for dinner. For cooking, you need to boil rice (it is better to use brown), and grate the pumpkin or cut into smaller sticks. Also, medium-sized chopped peppers, carrots and onions, you can add mushrooms. Mix vegetables with rice, add your favorite seasonings (the dish should be moderately sharp) and put in a baking dish, spreading thin circles of tomatoes on top. Prepare a filling of beaten eggs with the addition of sour cream and mayonnaise, pour the prepared foods and put to bake. After about 30 minutes, remove the form, sprinkle with grated cheese and sprinkle on top and bake for ten minutes again.
As a dessert, you can cook baked pumpkin with sweet sauce, pancakes or pancakes from it and, of course, pumpkin pies, the aroma of which instantly makes you forget about the diet.