We don’t buy our pumpkin puree, nah, we make our own! Because, why not?! Have you ever seen homemade pumpkin puree? It’s a completely different colour than the one from the can, and you know what that means. Less guck.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

The puree from the store often includes preservatives, such as sugar and salt, so I prefer to avoid those additives by making my own. It’s the easiest thing to do, so if you were just thinking “Way too much work,” you’re wrong. Try it!

CHOOSING THE PROPER PUMPKIN

The most important part of this recipe is selecting the appropriate pumpkin variety. Those really big ones that you carve into on Halloween….No bueno. They are really bland in taste, and such a hassle to cut up due to their size. You CAN eat them, but they are not a good choice for pies or any other baked goods that include pumpkin. Your best bet is to find a Pie Pumpkin. They are sweeter and more flavourful and can be used in both sweet and savoury recipes.

I typically hold off on seasoning the pumpkin too much as one pumpkin usually makes a large enough batch to use in both savoury and sweet recipes, and each type of recipe would be seasoned differently. If you are making the puree solely for pie, pancakes, pumpkin spiced lattes, or anything on the sweeter end, you can definitely add some cinnamon and nutmeg to this recipe to jazz it up! On the contrary, you can grind some pepper and add some dried thyme or sage if you plan to use the puree in more savoury-type dishes, like soups or casseroles.

Like I said, pumpkin puree is really easy to make. The most challenging part is just getting your pumpkin cut up! So, grab yourself some sharp knives, and let’s roll!

Homemade Pumpkin Puree

Yield: About 3 cups (depending on the size of your pumpkin)

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 pie pumpkin
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Using a sharp knife, cut your pumpkin into 1-inch wedges and remove the seeds. Lay the wedges flat, on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Drizzle them with the olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Use your hands to coat all of the wedges and then bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes, flipping once halfway through. When you can easily pierce a fork through the pumpkin, they are done.
3. Let the wedges cool completely on the baking sheet and then remove the skin and discard. Place pumpkin into a food processor and blend until smooth. Transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to three days. You can also freeze the puree if you wish to use it later.