Since Halloween was celebrated recently, the images of beautifully carved huge pumpkins will be still fresh in our minds. It grows on creepers and comes various colors, shape and sizes. It is ideal as a health food because it is packed with nutrients and has less calories. It is rich in nutrients like Vitamin A, Vitamin E, carotene, dietary fiber and plenty of anti-oxidants. Pumpkin seeds are rich in proteins and various minerals. Pumpkin is very versatile and can be used in variety of dishes, so many that we have categorized them today. They can be used in a number of dessert recipes which sounds exciting because the sinful desserts suddenly have a healthier option. Although pumpkins are available all through the year, they are abundant during fall and you can try out these interesting recipes for good health.
Pumpkin Salads
Honey roasted pumpkin spinach and pine nut salad
A Mediterranean inspired dish, it has pumpkin wedges roasted along with honey. The salad has an overall sweet taste which is balanced with the spinach leaves and the sour lemon juice from the dressing. Roasted sesame seeds give nutty flavor which is further enhanced by pine nuts. The dish has good amount of protein due to the use of nuts. Besides the roasting of the pumpkin, this dish can be prepared in a short period of time and is very healthy as well.
Roasted Pumpkin, Fennel & Peach Salad
A simple but very tasty salad where the pumpkin is roasted along with the dressing to give it extra flavor. It is very healthy as it is teamed with fennel fronds, peach and lettuce. Toasted almonds give the essential crunch to the salad and the lettuce adds crispiness. The roasted pumpkin has a sweet earthy taste and the peaches have a sweet, slightly sour and tangy flavor. It makes for a very wholesome salad.
The roast pumpkin salad does not require too much of prep and can be done without much effort. The roasting gives the pumpkin a nice earthy flavor and enhances its sweetness. This is balanced by using the fetta and acidity from balsamic vinegar used in the dressing. The roasted pine nuts add the protein to the dish as well as the crunchiness. This goes perfectly with the soft roasted pumpkin cubes. Freshly shredded mint leaves give the freshness that is so essential of a salad. Just pour the previously prepared dressing, just before presenting the salad.
Pumpkin Drinks
This Pumpkin recipe is a take on the classic egg nog recipe, which you should definitely give a try. It is very healthy because it makes use of vanilla soy milk and sugar free chocolate pudding mix, which makes it thick. The pumpkin gives it another level of sweetness and thickness. It is a no-cook recipe and there is no worry of having raw egg either. You will want to have this nog instead of the traditional one.
Another take on the Pumpkin Latte with the twist of Pumpkin and Chai tea flavoring. It has lots of spices and this one is for all the tea lovers. A drink to be had during fall, you can adjust the amount of pumpkin puree in it depending on how much you like it. It is a refreshing beverage with nutmeg and pumpkin pie spice. Depending on how you like your chai tea, you can use whole milk or simply use whipped topping.
It is surprising to find pumpkin in recipes of drinks or beverages, but they are pretty good to taste. Starbucks has this Latte on their menu, and this is the home-made, much healthier and low caloric version of it. The recipe calls for Almond milk and pumpkin puree as the main ingredients along with coffee of course. It is also quite cheap when made at home and you will definitely be away from the sugar syrup found in commercially available latte.
Savory Pumpkin Recipes
Using smoked paprika in this dish gives it a unique flavor and is nothing short of delicious. Prepared in vegetable broth with the option of replacing it with beer it will give result of different taste. A hearty pumpkin chili dish which will warm your body and soul. The pumpkin puree gives it a nice thick texture and makes it very heart. If you are unable to find smoked paprika, just add smoke flavor powder and you are good to go.
Pumpkin is one versatile vegetable, it can be used in savory and sweet dishes and all turn out perfectly. This particular dish combines pumpkin with lot of jalapenos and the hot spicy salsa can be used as a perfect Mexican accompaniment to a variety of dishes. It goes well with pork and chicken, even leftover roast ones. The regular chips and tacos will definitely be perfect to be had with the pumpkin salsa. You can make it in larger batches and store in the refrigerator.
A very interesting baked dish using pasta and pumpkin which makes it very healthy as well. This one has lot of proteins and is low in calories as well. You need not actually make the pasta for this recipe, instead use wonton wraps. Ricotta cheese gives the protein content of the recipe and the pumpkin puree is the other main ingredient of the filling. Depending on how you like the texture you can get pasta like ravioli or wonton like crunchy ravioli.
Pumpkin Smoothie
Creamy Pumpkin Cranberry Smoothie
This smoothie combines all the produce grown during fall. Since it has all fresh produce, the smoothie is flavorful, tasty and healthy. Just fix up this pumpkin smoothie in 5 minutes and use non-daily milk, like almond milk. The nuts in the smoothie contribute to the protein content, the cranberries, apples, oranges and pumpkin are source of vitamins. Coconut cream will provide the very essential MUFA. You can always experiment with the ingredients of the smoothie.
There are many recipes available for pumpkin pie smoothies on the internet, this one seems like a treat you can give yourself. It is a very thick smoothie which is quite filling as well. This pumpkin pie recipe inspired smoothie has rolled oats as well as chia seeds. The recipe uses almond milk and hence is dairy free. For further indulgence it can be topped up with whipped coconut cream, which is a healthier option than milk cream.
Chocolate Swirl Pumpkin Spiced Smoothie
Photo: Fuss Free Cooking
If you are tired of adding bananas to your smoothie recipes, it is time to change. Introduce pumpkin puree to the smoothie can feel the change. The base of a good smoothie is a good pumpkin puree. Cinnamon and nutmeg are spices which go very well with pumpkin flavor in beverages as well as smoothies. The chocolate twist in this smoothie is addition of cocoa powder in the puree itself. This makes it a healthier option as compared to chocolate milkshake.
Pumpkin Soups
The humble pumpkin soup has been modified with French influence to make it part of the Moroccan meal. It is very low in calories and is prepared by boiling the pumpkin in vegetable broth till it becomes soft and tender. The light spices give it a pleasant taste and you can use chicken broth as well. If you prefer to make it Vegan, you can use almond milk in it. The Ras el Hanout is a spice which makes it Moroccan.
Pumpkin and Carrot Soup with Crispy Pancetta and Fried Sage
Nothing can warm you on cold winter day like a bowl of warm soup. This pumpkin soup recipe has added carrot for its sweetness and the right amount of spice to complement it. Roasting the pumpkin ensures that the soup has an earthy flavor and when pureed, it gives a smooth and velvety texture. To finish off, the fried sage and pancetta as topping is perfect way to complete the soup recipe. The soup is a rich source of carotenes, xanthins and lutein.
Photo: Cookie and Kate
This is quite close to the traditional Pumpkin soup recipe by roasting the pumpkin to a smooth puree. The creaminess is lent by using coconut milk, which is rich in MUFAs. You can add milk cream, but that will increase the calorie count and also is not a vegan option. This recipe can be tried out by Vegans as well. This pumpkin recipe is very easy and straight-forward, which can be made in advance as well. You can top it up with roasted pumpkin seeds which add to the protein content of the soup.
Pumpkin Breads
A Paleo recipe for bread using coconut flour and dates for sweetening the bread. This is a no sugar bread so it is excellent for someone who is watching their weight as well. Another perfect fall recipe, with this quick recipe for pumpkin bread you cannot go wrong. You can completely skip the chocolate chips and still get the perfect pumpkin bread. It tastes good for breakfast as it does hot out of the oven. This take a little longer to bake than your standard bread would possibly due to the pumpkin puree.
Pumpkin Cranberry Bread-sticks
Photo: Recipe Girl
The combination of Pumpkin and Cranberry goes really well together, so after a smoothie we also have a recipe for bread with it. The bread-sticks turn out crispy on the outside while being soft and a little chewy inside. Perfect to have during Thanksgiving. There is kosher salt sprinkled on it just before baking and the cranberry bits look like inviting jewel bits. The sweetness derived from the pumpkin puree is mild in flavor. You can combine these with soups, salad or any other savory dish.
A Pumpkin bread recipe you cannot go wrong with. This one here has the goodness of walnuts added to it, you can change it to other nuts of your choice. One of the best foods to be had around fall, you can easily make this a staple during this time of the year. The batter itself is very tempting with a velvety texture with the pumpkin being the main highlight of the dish. You can also choose to simply put some butter on the warm bread and enjoy it.
Pumpkin Desserts
The aroma of warm waffles can be quite a temptation. Imagine adding the goodness of pumpkin to these waffles. The sweetness of pumpkin imparts a unique flavor which is complemented by spiciness of ginger. This is one pumpkin recipe which can be tried out for breakfast or desserts and is very healthy. In no time it can become one of the family favorites.
Photo: Dashing Dish
The name is misleading because you will wonder how can a cheesecake be healthy? It is loaded with cream cheese, this one is not. Cottage cheese is used to make this light, fluffy and equally yummy cheesecake which is rich in protein. Pumpkin puree increases its vitamin content as well. It is one of the quickest desserts you can prepare and so healthy. Small portion size will ensure you do not over indulge even if you want to. Using stevia in the dish further cuts down the caloric content of the dish
Another yummy dessert using pumpkin as the base is this pumpkin pie pudding recipe. It has only 50% of the calories from a similar pudding recipe and most of the sweetness is contributed by the pumpkin puree. With only 168 calories per serving it is sure a delightful dessert. This pumpkin pie pudding is gluten free and has low fat milk in it which contributes less calories from fats. It is easy to prepare and definitely easy to devour.
Photo: Unconventional Baker
One look at the pictures of this pumpkin cheesecake and you will drool. You can prepare this cheesecake in two ways. You will find that this recipe is vegan, paleo and gluten-free. It is pumpkin at heart and completely divine to taste. A cheesecake so good to taste but very healthy as well. You can get the nuttiness of the no bake recipe or get the beautiful golden color of the baked crust of the pumpkin cheesecake.
Other Pumpkin Recipes
A pasta sauce made with pumpkin as the base sounds very interesting. It is creamy in texture and has sage to perfectly complement the pumpkin puree. The recipe calls for using heavy cream but you can always substitute it with a lighter cream. It works well with any type of pasta recipe and will soon become a favorite.
/a>
Photo: Nutritionist In The Kitch
Just a look at these Pumpkin Pie Protein bars is enough to make you want to have them. Energy dense and rich in proteins, they do not contain any added sugar. These protein bars can be made quickly and are very easy to make. Since you are making them at home, you will ensure that there is no added sugar or glucose or any other additives you might want to steer clear of. Besides pumpkin puree it has pumpkin seeds, coconut, dates and cashew nuts which all add to the protein content of the bars.
Almond butter with pumpkin flavor, the perfect way to spruce up your crackers or cookies during fall. You can team it with oatmeal or even toast and it tastes heavenly. To make this butter even more healthy, there are chia seeds added in it. They also provide a unique texture to the butter spread. The butter is sweetened using stevia and maple syrup or entirely using maple syrup. You can use it as a dip along with fruits, pancakes and waffles to make your breakfast a little more exciting.
from Bembu http://ift.tt/1OMqPhn
0 commentaires:
Enregistrer un commentaire