Hello and welcome to the Locavore’s Digest Seasonal Highlight! Today, we are looking at pumpkins, the vegetable darlings of the Halloween season, and their many uses.
Originating in Central America, pumpkins are considered one of the oldest domesticated vegetables. Seeds dating back almost 7,000 years have been found in Mexico, and when you consider the versatility of the pumpkin, you can see why these squashes were so valuable then and now. (Also, fun fact: the difference between a squash and a gourd is that squashes are edible, and gourds are for decoration or dried and used for other purposes, like a loofah.)
Just about every part of a pumpkin can be eaten. The flesh can be roasted and then added to a variety of recipes (check out the recipe section for more ideas on that front!), the seeds can be roasted and seasoned, and even the stringy guts of the pumpkin can be turned into vegetable stock for later use in soups.
Excited to get cooking with pumpkin? Check out our recipes below!
Roasted Pumpkin Puree: https://thelocavoresdigest.com/roasted-pumpkin-puree/
Pumpkin Risotto: https://thelocavoresdigest.com/pumpkin-risotto/
Pumpkin Pancakes: https://thelocavoresdigest.com/pumpkin-pancakes/
Pumpkin Gut Stock: https://thelocavoresdigest.com/pumpkin-stock/
Thank you for reading this Seasonal Highlight edition of the Locavore’s Digest. Do you love what we’re doing and want to support us? Please consider joining our Patreon so we can keep bringing you fresh recipes and local food info!
Yours In Deliciousness,
The Loquacious Locavore