Baking a pumpkin can be intimidating and awkward. They’re oversized, heavy, cumbersome and can make a huge mess. But fresh pumpkin can make all the difference in a recipe. It’s actually easy to prep and bake. Just follow this step-by-step tutorial below.
Makes 4 cups.
1 sugar pumpkin
2 tsp real salt
1 tbsp unrefined coconut oil
►Preheat oven to 350 degrees
►Rinse the outside of the pumpkin and cut off the top as you would when making a jack-o-lantern
►Slice the pumpkin in half with a sharp knife
►Scoop out all the seeds and guts (Save the seeds to make a crunchy snack! Then compost the guts.)
►Rub coconut oil and salt on the inside of each pumpkin half
►Place in a baking dish with sides high enough to catch the pumpkin in case it collapses in the oven
►When it’s done, you’ll be able to easily slide a fork through the skin
►Allow to cool for 10 minutes before handling then scoop out the pumpkin meat and peel away all the skin. (Again, make sure to compost the skin!)
►Place all the pumpkin meat into a food processor and give it a good spin for five minutes for a good puree. You may have to do this in batches.
►Voila! Fresh pumpkin!
►If you’re using for a recipe, strain the puree through some cheesecloth to remove the excess water