by alextabar
One of the great pleasures that come with the fall season is the flavor of pumpkin everywhere, from pumpkin spiced lattes to pumpkin pie. But the five following recipes break the mold by taking pumpkin to the next level.
With a touch of spice or ingredients typical of Latin American cuisine, these dishes embrace the spirit of fall while exploring new flavors.
Coconut Pumpkin Soup
This hearty soup has it all: it’s the perfect balance of creamy, sweet and spicy. To prepare it, start by cooking a mix of mashed ginger, garlic, chopped onions, red pepper flakes and cumin. Follow by adding pumpkin puree, coconut milk and either chicken or vegetable broth. Let it simmer until the soup thickens and all the flavors come together. Garnish with pumpkin seeds and enjoy with warm, toasty bread.
Spicy Pumpkin Fritters
These fritters are the perfect finger food for your fall gatherings! To make them, mix the dry ingredients together: all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, chili powder, onion powder and crushed red pepper flakes. Then add a combination of eggs, pumpkin puree, milk and melted butter to the dry ingredients. Form into balls and fry in very hot oil until golden brown. Enjoy while they last!
Pumpkin Flan
Give the classic flan a twist by adding pumpkin to this Latin American cherished dessert. To prepare it, mix together eggs, condensed milk, evaporated milk, pumpkin puree, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Make a caramel in a pan by slowly melting sugar until golden. When the caramel is cool, pour the flan mixture over the caramel and bake in a water bath in the oven. Refrigerate for a couple of hours and enjoy it with your loved ones.
Spiced Pumpkin Bread
This spiced bread will leave everyone asking for seconds! The sweet flavor of pumpkin comes together beautifully with a mix of spices in one exquisite loaf that is the perfect balance between a cake and a bread. To make it, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water and sugar. Separately, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Add the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture and blend. Pour into greased loaf tins and bake until golden or a toothpick comes out clean. Enjoy it with your favorite hot beverage.
Mexican Pumpkin Empanadas
These Mexican style empanadas are a pocketful of flavor! Originally from the region of Chihuahua, this delicacy is usually served during Christmas dinner. To make them, get your favorite store-bought pastry dough and cut into discs. Make the pumpkin filling by melting butter and brown sugar in a pan; add canned pumpkin, ground cinnamon and cloves, adding orange peel once removed from the heat. Let cool. Fill your discs with the pumpkin puree, seal with a fork and bake until golden brown. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar while hot.
Which one will you make?
by Alex Tabar & Erika Morillo
