You’ve carved a fun design and displayed it with pride, now, what to do with your Halloween pumpkin? Each year the Good Food team views Halloween as a great opportunity to turn leftovers into something delicious, from spectacular soups to comforting puds. This year, however, there is one recipe in particular that is grabbing our attention: our irresistible creamy pumpkin pasta. When puréed and combined with mascarpone and parmesan, the pumpkin flesh transforms into a silky, delicious pasta sauce, perfect for an autumnal dinner which also feels like a treat. Keep reading to uncover nine more dishes from our recipe archive, each celebrating the very best of this iconic gourd, including trending pumpkin soup and pumpkin pie ideas.
Make more fabulous seasonal bakes and filling autumnal meals from our pumpkin recipe collection and leftover pumpkin collection. We also have our round-up of pumpkin carving ideas, pumpkin purée recipes and pumpkin recipes to make with kids, or go the extra mile with a fun family outing to one of the UK’s best pumpkin patches.
Arguably the tastiest way to eat your pumpkin leftovers, our recipe blitzes pumpkin into a smooth purée and combines with mascarpone and parmesan to make a deliciously silky pasta sauce. It’s so easy to rustle up, with rigatoni making the perfect match for the creamy sauce. When you’re ready to serve, make sure to season and scatter with a blanket of parmesan for a dish that tastes like autumn in a bowl.
Use soft pumpkin flesh to make a creamy pumpkin & lentil soup, topped with crunchy roasted pumpkin seeds. This wholesome seasonal bowlful makes a great family-friendly dinner, served with hunks of crusty bread or buttery garlic bread. Blitz your ingredients in a blender with crème fraîche for a silky smooth soup that packs plenty of flavour.
Fill your kitchen with mouth-watering seasonal aromas and treat yourself to a slice of classic pumpkin pie with pecan & maple cream. Use up your lantern carvings and create something delicious in the process. Enjoy a substantial slab with a dollop of cream for a dreamy dessert or afternoon pick-me-up.
Looking for ways to put your slow-cooker to good use? Put in a little effort the night before and you can have a velvety pumpkin soup ready as a starter for a special autumnal dinner with guests. This vegan recipe serves six generously, plus it’s low in fat and calories. If your pumpkin or squash isn’t quite big enough to make up the required weight, you can supplement it with chopped carrots.
Indulge in something savoury with this vegetarain pumpkin pasta alla vodka, topped with sage leaves for a rustic finish. It’s easy to make, plus it’s a brilliant way of making the most of this majestic gourd. Vodka and chilli flakes provide a lovely deep flavour, too.
A slice of our squidgy pumpkin & ginger loaf, with a warming cup of tea, is the perfect antidote to chilly evenings. This dense loaf, laced with black treacle, golden syrup and aromatic spices tastes even better having been left for a couple of days for the flavours to mature. Try a thick slice, smeared with butter.
Turn your carved out pumpkin into a spooky centrepiece with our creamy pumpkin hummus. The nutty tahini, roasted garlic and earthy pumpkin make for a moreish dip – everyone will be going back for seconds of this simple, healthy snack. Serve it in the pumpkin shell for an eye-catching display.
Believe it or not, you can turn chunks of pumpkin into a mouth-watering brunch treat. Our pumpkin pancakes with salted pecan butterscotch are a seriously impressive stack. Soft, fluffy pancakes; salty, sweet sauce; crunchy pecans and a dollop of vanilla ice cream make for a truly decadent start to the day. Or, try our healthy pumpkin pancakes with fresh fruit and crème fraîche.
No one could turn down a bowl of our pumpkin curry with chickpeas and fluffy naan. Soft chunks of pumpkin make a great base for this veggie main, it also makes a delicious side dish paired with roast meat or fish. It tastes even better the next day after the flavours have had a change to intensify.
Merge two USA classics into one bite-sized treat. Our easy pumpkin pie s’mores with melty marshmallow filling and warming ginger biscuits are a gooey delight. Add a sprinkling of cinnamon for a hint of sweetness and spice.
Enjoyed these recipes? Try our other autumnal dishes…
Top 10 autumn recipes
10 autumn drinks you must try
10 new ways with pumpkin
Our best ever vegetarian autumn recipes
What’s your favourite way to use up leftover pumpkin? Leave a comment below…
