Learn how to make homemade pumpkin puree from scratch in few easy steps. Add it to your favourite pumpkin puree recipes this Fall, especially during holidays. Make this delicious pumpkin puree using Instant pot or roast a pumpkin in oven. Boil it or steam it. How to store it? This post says all in detail.
When there is the fall, there has to be a warm and delicious pumpkin soup. Don't you think that the Pumpkin is synonym to the Fall? For me, yes, at least I feel that.
Believe me, making pumpkin puree at home is one of the easiest thing to do. And, I prefer it over the store bought pumpkin puree can. Homemade is always the best.
The taste, the flavor, the texture is so much good. It is delicate and sweet! I always make a big batch of it around this time of the year.
Why?
Because, pumpkin puree recipes are on the roll at our home during fall. OMG! there is so much to make and so much to bake!
What is Pumpkin Puree?
Pumpkin puree is a delicate and great tasting paste or pulp of cooked and mashed or blended flesh of Pumpkin (winter squash).
You can either bake, roast, sauté, steam or boil the pumpkin and then puree it.
It goes into most of the pumpkin recipes. A pie, muffins, cookies, cakes, pastas, soups, stews, smoothies and what not. And, how can I forget to make some really nice dips and pancakes! Yummy!
Moreover, homemade pumpkin puree is a great source of nutrition for babies also, isn't this amazing? It is ! 🙂
Choosing the right pumpkin for puree
Me being settled in India, it is hard to find the 'sugar pumpkin' or 'pie pumpkin'. Sadly, it is not available in our part of the world.
So, I use any of the two that we get here in India. For me, either it will be a yellow pumpkin or the Muscat pumpkin variety.
Is that Pumpkin Ripe?
Do you want to master in making a good pumpkin puree? Well, then here are few things to keep in mind.
Choose good pumpkin that is a perfect ripe. Now, how to know it?
- Always, check the stem of the pumpkin, it should be hard.
2. The colour of the pumpkin should be evenly orange.
3. Give a little tap with your hand or your knuckles, it should sound hollow.
4. The pumpkin should have a hard skin. Use your thumb nail, try to puncture it and it won't.
Did you get the above tests right? Yay, It's ripe.
Can I Freeze Homemade Pumpkin Puree?
A big thumbs-up!
You can easily freeze the pumpkin puree in freezer upto 6 months.
To freeze the puree, use clean freezer safe container or zip pouch. I, personally, love to store them in batches.
So, I always scoop out a cup of fresh pumpkin puree. And, then put each of them in separate containers.
Whenever, you wish to use it, simply thaw it and then use. To thaw the puree, let it rest overnight in a refrigerator. Finish the thawed puree within 2-3 days.
You can also refrigerate the puree for 4-5 days. Use a clean airtight box to refrigerate it. Avoid storing it for more than 5 days in a fridge. It will go stale.
Preparation for Pumpkin Puree
Start off with cleaning, washing and wiping out the pumpkin. Cut off the stem.
Carefully, cut it into halves. If a pumpkin is of a little bigger in size, then slice it into quarter.
Using metal spoon scoop to the seeds and string fibres.
How to cook pumpkin for puree?
Well, there are number of ways by which you cook pumpkin to make its pulp. You can do it by sautéing or roasting, pan cooking, boiling or steaming it.
It is not at all necessary to bake or roast or pressure cook pumpkin using instant pot. You can easily cook it using steaming or boiling method also.
To boil the pumpkin
To begin with, add enough water in large pot or a pan. Bring the water to a boil.
Slice the cut pumpkin, cut it in small equal sized cubes, and then peel it.
Add the cubes into the boiling water and cook for about 20-25 minutes. Or until the pumpkin cubes are tender. Check for the doneness by piercing the knife. It should pass through easily.
Now, strain the pumpkin and drain the water completely. Be sure to strain every drop of water. Because, we need nice thick puree and not of runny consistency.
By using food processor or blender or hand blender, blend it into a fine puree.
To steam the pumpkin
For the steaming method, use a pot that can hold a vegetable steamer or a colander. Bring a pot of enough water to a boil.
Now, either slice the cut pumpkin or cut them into small pieces, peel them.
Place the cut pumpkin pieces in steamer over the boiling water. Cover and steam it for 50 -60 minutes. Or until the flesh is tender.
Blend the steamed pumpkin into fine puree.
How to Bake or Roast Pumpkin for Puree?
Roasting the pumpkin is so simple and easy. The things we need is, a good ripe pumpkin, baking sheet or a tray. That's it!
But, if you want to avoid the mess, you can use parchment paper or aluminium foil to line the tray.
Pre-heat the oven at 400 degrees.
Place the cut pumpkin a baking tray. Cut side up or down, both the ways are fine.
Roast it for 50-60 minutes or until flesh is tender.
Check using fork, if it pierces the skin or flesh well. If it is roasted well, flesh would scoop off easily. If not, then pop it back in the oven for another 5-10 minutes.
How to cook pumpkin in instant pot pressure cooker?
Place the inner pot in an IP and switch it on. Add 1 and ½ cup of water in a pot and place the trivet.
Place the cut pumpkin over the trivet.
Cover the the pot with IP lid. Turn the pressure valve to sealing position, press manual/pressure cook. Set the timer to 15 minutes and pressure cook it on high.
Let the pressure naturally for 8-10 minutes and then do quick release.
Lift the handles of the the rack, place the pumpkin on a tray or plate. Either scoop it out using sturdy spoon or peel off the skin.
NOTE: If a pumpkin is too large to fit in the IP, then cut it into halves and proceed to cook.
If it is small, you can simply place the whole pumpkin on the trivet and pressure cook. Once a pumpkin is cooked, take it out, slice it into halves, scoop the seeds and the fibres. then go on ahead with pureeing it.
How to make Pumpkin Puree?
Once the pumpkin is baked or cooked and peeled, it is ready to be pureed. Let the pumpkin cool a bit before blending it.
Now, add cooked or baked pumpkin into a blender or a food processor.
Blend it to a smooth paste. You may also add 1-2 tablespoons of water, only if required. Remember, we do not need runny or watery puree. It should be thick, smooth and creamy.
Take the puree out and store in clean jar or container or zip lock bags. Refrigerate it or freeze it!
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Pumpkin Puree
Ingredients
- 1 Pumpkin (3-5 pound) (Sugar or pie pumpkin / yellow or Muscat Pumpkin)
- Water as needed
Instructions
Preparation Of Pumpkin Puree
- Start off with cleaning, washing and wiping out the pumpkin.
- Cut off the stem.
- Carefully, cut it into halves. If a pumpkin is of a little bigger in size, then slice it into quarter.
- Using metal spoon scoop to the seeds and string fibres.
How To Cook Pumpkin For Puree
Bake or Roast it:
- Pre-heat the oven at 400 degrees.
- Place the cut pumpkin a baking tray. Cut side up or down, both the ways are fine.
- Roast it for 50-60 minutes or until flesh is tender.
- Check using fork, if it pierces the skin or flesh well.
- If it is roasted well, flesh would scoop off easily. If not, then pop it back in the oven for another 5-10 minutes.
Boil it :
- Add enough water in large pot or a pan. Bring the water to a boil.
- Slice the cut pumpkin, cut it in small equal sized cubes, and then peel it.
- Add the cubes into the boiling water and cook for about 20-25 minutes or until the pumpkin cubes are tender.
- Check for the doneness by piercing the knife. It should pass through easily.
- Strain the pumpkin and drain the water completely.
Steam it:
- For the steaming method, use a pot that can hold a vegetable steamer or a colander.
- Bring a pot of enough water to a boil.
- Now, either slice the cut pumpkin or cut them into small pieces, peel them.
- Place the cut pumpkin pieces in steamer over the boiling water.
- Cover and steam it for 50 -60 minutes. Or until the flesh is tender.
Instant Pot Pressure Cook it:
- Place the inner pot in an IP and switch it on.
- Add 1 and ½ cup of water in a pot and place the trivet.
- Place the cut pumpkin over the trivet.
- Cover the the pot with IP lid. Turn the pressure valve to sealing position, press manual/pressure cook.
- Set the timer to 15 minutes and pressure cook it on high.
- Let the pressure naturally for 8-10 minutes and then do quick release.
- Lift the handles of the the rack, place the pumpkin on a tray or plate.
How To Make Pumpkin Puree
- Once the pumpkin is baked or cooked, it is ready to be pureed.
- Let the pumpkin cool it a bit before blending it.
- Either scoop out the pumpkin flesh using sturdy spoon or peel it.
- Add cooked or baked pumpkin into a blender or a food processor. You can also use hand blender.
- Blend it to a smooth paste.
- You may also add 1-2 tablespoons of water, only if required.
- Take the puree out and store in clean jar or container or zip lock bags.
- Refrigerate it or freeze it.
Chelsey says
I’ve never tried making pumpkin purée before but this tutorial looks so easy!! Definitely need to give this a try!
Farrukh Aziz says
Thanks tonnes Chelsey, am glad you liked the tutorial and willing to give it try 🙂
Jessica Kirk says
Another great, use for my instant pot. Thanks for the great tips.
Farrukh Aziz says
Thank you so much Jessica.
Yes, Instant pot has become an important part of lives. 🙂