Description
Hearty pioneer woman pumpkin puree celebrates seasonal autumn richness with simple ingredients from scratch. Home cooks can easily create this smooth, flavorful base for pies, breads, and seasonal recipes you’ll love.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 small pumpkins (1–2 lbs/0.45–0.9 kg)
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- Fresh thyme leaves (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Select two small, firm pumpkins with smooth surfaces, ensuring peak freshness and quality.
- Oven Setup: Position rack centrally and heat oven to 350°F, creating optimal roasting environment for transforming pumpkins into velvety puree.
- Initial Breakdown: Halve pumpkins with precision, using a sharp chef’s knife to create clean, symmetrical sections.
- Internal Cleansing: Thoroughly excavate seeds and fibrous membranes using a metal spoon, leaving only the pure, smooth flesh exposed.
- Roasting Configuration: Arrange pumpkin halves skin-side up on a rimmed baking sheet, allowing natural moisture to concentrate during cooking process.
- Thermal Transformation: Roast for 45-50 minutes until flesh yields effortlessly when pierced with a fork, indicating perfect tenderness.
- Cooling and Preparation: Rest pumpkins for 15-20 minutes, then gently remove skin by peeling or using a paring knife to separate flesh.
- Textural Refinement: Process roasted pumpkin in a food processor, creating a silky-smooth puree with consistent texture.
- Consistency Adjustment: If needed, introduce water sparingly to achieve ideal smoothness, avoiding dilution of rich pumpkin flavor.
- Final Polish: Optionally strain through cheesecloth or fine-mesh strainer to eliminate any residual fibers, ensuring pristine, restaurant-quality puree.
- Storage and Usage: Utilize immediately in culinary creations or preserve in sealed containers within refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Choose Perfect Pumpkins: Select small, firm pumpkins with vibrant color and smooth skin for best flavor and texture.
- Roast with Skin Up: Position pumpkin halves skin-side up to trap natural moisture and create tender, rich flesh during baking.
- Check Tenderness Carefully: Pierce pumpkin with fork after 45-50 minutes to ensure soft, fully cooked interior without overcooking.
- Smooth Puree Technique: Process roasted flesh thoroughly and strain through cheesecloth for ultra-silky, restaurant-quality pumpkin puree.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 440mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg