The post-Halloween dilemma: What do you do with all that leftover pumpkin? Here’s 3 scarily good pumpkin recipes that are all treat and no trick!
With Halloween just around the corner you’re probably neck deep in pumpkin right about now. You’re hollowing out those massive orange vegetables and carving them into some scary lantern. But what are you supposed to do with all that leftover pumpkin? Throwing it away seems like a waste. But there’s only so much pumpkin soup that the average person can muster. So with that in mind, I’ve got 3 pumpkin recipes that breathe life into this potentially dead boring vegetable.
So when you think about cooking with pumpkin, what’s the first recipe you think of?
I guarantee 99% of you just said soup. And the other 1% are probably just lying. Because let’s be honest, eating pumpkin is rarely more than a once a year thing. So your repertoire of pumpkin recipes is probably pretty limited.
But that need not be the case. Because not all pumpkin recipes need to be bland and boring. And they can be macro friendly and tasty at the same time.
So, without further talk from me, let’s dive right in to this week’s recipes. Here’s what I’ve got for you:
- Full Moon Pumpkin Soup – Yes. It’s still soup, but not as you know it.
- Fish and Pumpkin Stew – Sounds a bit weird, but trust me, it works!
- Pumpkin Protein Bars – How does a delicious protein snack sound to keep you going throughout the day?
Pumpkin Recipes: Full Moon Pumpkin Soup
Recipe makes 8 servings
Nutritional values per serving
MACROS: Protein = 5g, Carbs = 14g, Fat = 6g
TOTAL CALORIES: 165 Kcal
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
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WHAT YOU NEED:
- 2 onions
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 1.7 lbs. (800g) pumpkin cubes
- chili flakes, to taste
- 3 1/3 cup (800ml) of water
- 2 chicken bouillon cubes
- 10.5 oz. (300g) grilled peppers (jar)
- 10.5 oz. (300g) corn kernels
- 14.1 oz. (400g) black beans
- ½ cup (125g) crème fraiche or soy alternative
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WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
Firstly, you need to chop those onions. Then, heat the oil in a saucepan and fry them for 3 minutes on low heat. After that, add the pumpkin and chilli flakes and cook for anther 5 minutes on medium heat.
Next up add the water and the bouillon tablets and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and gently simmer for 20 minutes.
Add the grilled peppers along with the liquid from the jar and cook for another 5 minutes. Purée the soup with a hand blender until smooth.
Meanwhile, rinse and drain the corn and black beans. Then add them to the soup and heat for another 2 minutes.
Finally, divide the soup into the bowls and add 1 tsp of cream in each. Stir gently to create a completely unnecessary swirl and serve.
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Pumpkin Recipes: Fish and Pumpkin Stew
Recipe makes 4 servings
Nutritional values per serving
MACROS: Protein = 22g, Carbs = 49g, Fat = 13g
TOTAL CALORIES: 415 Kcal
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
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WHAT YOU NEED:
- 1 large avocado
- 1 tbsp. lime juice
- fajita or Mexican seasoning
- 1 tbsp. coconut oil
- 1 red & 1 green pepper, sliced
- juice of ½ lime
- 1 onion, sliced
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- 4 large eggs
- 4 corn tortillas
- Handful of cilantro, chopped
- Salsa (optional)
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WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
Firstly, prepare a quick guacamole by mashing the avocado flesh and mixing it with 1 tbsp of lime juice. Then season with salt & pepper.
Once you’ve done that, heat the oil over medium heat and add the peppers, onion and seasoning. Mix well and cook, stirring occasionally for about 10 min. Next add in the garlic and cook for another minute. Then remove the pan from the heat and drizzle with lime juice, season with salt and pepper.
While the vegetables are cooking go ahead and fry the eggs in a separate pan. Next, transfer the eggs onto a plate and cover with tin foil to keep warm. In the same pan warm the tortillas.
Finally, assemble the fajitas, spread guacamole on each tortilla, then top each with an egg, followed by some veggies. And make sure you season with ground pepper and top with salsa (optional). Serve warm.
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Pumpkin Recipes: Pumpkin Protein Bars
Recipe makes 4 servings
Nutritional values per serving
MACROS: Protein = 12g, Carbs = 11g, Fat = 9g
TOTAL CALORIES: 191 Kcal
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 0 mins
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WHAT YOU NEED:
- 1/4 cup (60g) pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup (65g) cashew or almond butter
- 4 tbsp pea protein powder
- 4 tsp coconut sugar
- 1 tbsp almond milk
- 1 tsp pumpkin spice
- 2 squares dark chocolate
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WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
Mix all the ingredients (except the chocolate) together until you get a dough that you can shape with your hands.
Divide your dough into 4 balls then shape into bars.
Melt the chocolate in a bain-marie or in a microwave and coat each bar.
Chill in the refrigerator until chocolate has set.
Even a member of the undead could make this recipe!
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Pumpkin Recipes Done!
And there you have it, pumpkin recipes that are tasty, easy to make, and will make the most out of that leftover pumpkin! So you don’t need to throw it all in the bin. Because it does have some use and it does taste good!. If you do, tag me in those pics on Instagram!
Do you want to know how to build a nutrition plan that brings real results?
Building these types of recipes into a well-structured meal plan is a key part of achieving your fitness goals. And I know that setting everything up can be a bit of a minefield.
So if you need some help optimising your nutrition and you fancy some some free advice from me, then take a look at my ‘7 Steps to Get Lean’ online workshop.
Because in this online workshop you’ll get all the information you need to lose fat and build muscle, whatever your circumstances. And you can grab your free spot by clicking on the image below.
Once you get on the webinar, you’ll learn all the tips and techniques I use to build my clients’ programmes. So you’ll get a unique insight into my Aesthetics Through Strength programme.