There are a few different ways to prepare pumpkin purée at home. It's great to make this pumpkin purée recipe ahead and freeze so that you’ll have plenty on hand for anytime use.
You can use the pumpkin purée in any recipe that calls for canned puree too. As a general rule, 3 pounds of fresh pumpkin will yield about 3 cups of mashed and cooked pumpkin.
Bake
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
Rinse the pumpkin under cool water to rid the skin of any residual dirt and dry well with a clean towel.
Cut the pumpkin in half. Remove the seeds and stringy fibres with a metal spoon or ice cream scoop. Save the seeds for toasting, if you like, and discard the innards.
Rub the cut surfaces with oil. Place them, cut side down, in a roasting pan and add 1 cup of water to the pan.
Bake in the oven until the flesh is tender when pierced with a knife. This takes approximately 90 minutes.
When tender, remove the pumpkin halves from the oven and place on a flat surface to cool.
Once cool enough to handle, but not cold, scoop out the pumpkin flesh.
Purée the pumpkin in a food processor, in a food mill, with a hand held blender or by hand.
Pumpkin flesh holds a lot of moisture. Line a sieve or fine mesh colander with paper towel or a coffee filter and set over a deep bowl. Let drain for about 2 hours and stir occasionally.
You can use the pumpkin purée in any recipe that calls for canned puree too. As a general rule, 3 pounds of fresh pumpkin will yield about 3 cups of mashed and cooked pumpkin.
Bake
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
Rinse the pumpkin under cool water to rid the skin of any residual dirt and dry well with a clean towel.
Cut the pumpkin in half. Remove the seeds and stringy fibres with a metal spoon or ice cream scoop. Save the seeds for toasting, if you like, and discard the innards.
Rub the cut surfaces with oil. Place them, cut side down, in a roasting pan and add 1 cup of water to the pan.
Bake in the oven until the flesh is tender when pierced with a knife. This takes approximately 90 minutes.
When tender, remove the pumpkin halves from the oven and place on a flat surface to cool.
Once cool enough to handle, but not cold, scoop out the pumpkin flesh.
Purée the pumpkin in a food processor, in a food mill, with a hand held blender or by hand.
Pumpkin flesh holds a lot of moisture. Line a sieve or fine mesh colander with paper towel or a coffee filter and set over a deep bowl. Let drain for about 2 hours and stir occasionally.
Boil
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
In the meantime, rinse the pumpkin under cool water to rid the skin of any residual dirt and dry well with a clean towel.
Cut the pumpkin in half. Remove the seeds and stringy fibers with a metal spoon or ice cream scoop. Save the seeds for toasting, if you like, and discard the innards.
Cut the pumpkin into evenly-sized smaller pieces and peel.
Add to the boiling water and cook for about 25 minutes or until the flesh is tender when pierced with a knife.
Purée the pumpkin in a food processor, in a food mill, with a hand held blender or by hand.
Steam
Bring a pot of water to a boil that will hold a vegetable steamer or colander.
In the meantime, rinse the pumpkin under cool water to rid the skin of any residual dirt and dry well with a clean towel.
Cut the pumpkin in half. Remove the seeds and stringy fibres with a metal spoon or ice cream scoop. Save the seeds for toasting, if you like, and discard the innards.
Cut the pumpkin into evenly sized smaller pieces and peel.
Place the pumpkin pieces in a steamer or metal colander and over the boiling water. Cover and let steam for about 50 minutes or until the flesh is tender when pierced with a knife.
Purée the pumpkin in a food processor, in a food mill, with a hand held blender or by hand.
To Freeze
Once the purée has cooled entirely, place in freezer containers or ice cube trays. Leave room at the top (headspace) of the containers or individual ice cube compartments. Label, date and freeze the purée for future use.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
In the meantime, rinse the pumpkin under cool water to rid the skin of any residual dirt and dry well with a clean towel.
Cut the pumpkin in half. Remove the seeds and stringy fibers with a metal spoon or ice cream scoop. Save the seeds for toasting, if you like, and discard the innards.
Cut the pumpkin into evenly-sized smaller pieces and peel.
Add to the boiling water and cook for about 25 minutes or until the flesh is tender when pierced with a knife.
Purée the pumpkin in a food processor, in a food mill, with a hand held blender or by hand.
Steam
Bring a pot of water to a boil that will hold a vegetable steamer or colander.
In the meantime, rinse the pumpkin under cool water to rid the skin of any residual dirt and dry well with a clean towel.
Cut the pumpkin in half. Remove the seeds and stringy fibres with a metal spoon or ice cream scoop. Save the seeds for toasting, if you like, and discard the innards.
Cut the pumpkin into evenly sized smaller pieces and peel.
Place the pumpkin pieces in a steamer or metal colander and over the boiling water. Cover and let steam for about 50 minutes or until the flesh is tender when pierced with a knife.
Purée the pumpkin in a food processor, in a food mill, with a hand held blender or by hand.
To Freeze
Once the purée has cooled entirely, place in freezer containers or ice cube trays. Leave room at the top (headspace) of the containers or individual ice cube compartments. Label, date and freeze the purée for future use.