Capital City College shares creative ways to upcycle Halloween pumpkins and avoid food waste

Transform your Halloween pumpkin with our selection of top tips and delicious recipes.

If you’ve been busy carving pumpkins this Halloween, then you may be wondering how best to use them up once the spooky season is over. With around 18,000 tonnes of pumpkins being thrown away each year in the UK, it’s important to consider the best way of disposing of your jack-o-lantern. In order to help you reduce food waste and get the most out of your Halloween pumpkin, we’ve put together a handy collection of creative suggestions and recipes.

What recipes can be made from pumpkin?

Spiced pumpkin soup

It’s impossible to write a list of pumpkin recipes without mentioning soup. Everyone has their favourite flavour combination but here are a few to get you started.

• Spiced pumpkin soup
• Pumpkin and bacon soup
• Pumpkin, chilli and coconut soup

If you decide to make a large batch of pumpkin soup, remember that it freezes well and can provide a warming meal in the cold winter months.

Roasted pumpkin dishes

When cooking with pumpkin, it’s a good idea to roast the flesh in chunks or wedges to concentrate flavour. It also means you have a delicious ready-made ingredient to add to a range of dishes such as stews, curries and sauces. Here are a few suggestions to bring a little extra zest to your autumn dinner table.

• Pumpkin chilli
• Pumpkin curry
• Pumpkin pasta
• Pumpkin risotto
• Pumpkin salad
• Pumpkin houmous

Pumpkin puree

You can steam or boil pumpkin flesh before blitzing it into a versatile puree. This can then be frozen in small bags or ice cube trays for easy storage, making your pumpkin last even longer!

Pumpkin puree is a great addition to stews and chillies for extra richness or you can mix it with cream cheese, parmesan and a touch of sage for a silky pasta sauce.

Pumpkin-based sweet treats

Pumpkin is a versatile ingredient, lending itself to both savoury and sweet dishes. Aside from the obvious (and delicious) classic Pumpkin pie, there are a whole host of sweet treats you can whip up using your pumpkin such as:

• Pumpkin spiced latte
• Pumpkin muffins
• Pumpkin bread
• Pumpkin cinnamon rolls
• Pumpkin spice cookies

What can I do with my pumpkin seeds?

Not everyone has the time or patience to make use of their pumpkin seeds – but if you want to have a go, here are our top tips. 

• Once you’ve scooped out your pumpkin’s innards, blanche the seeds to help clean them and then lay them out to dry.
• Season with a little olive oil, and salt and add honey or maple syrup if you’d like a touch of sweetness before spreading them out on a baking tray.
• Roast for around 20 minutes at around 200C/180C Fan, turning as needed.
• Season with ground spices (cinnamon, paprika or chilli work well) and leave to cool.
• Keep in an airtight container and shell before eating.

How can I use up pumpkin peel?

You can add pumpkin skin to your home-made vegetable stock to add a little extra flavour. It’s also possible to make pumpkin skin crisps. Peel your pumpkin using a vegetable peeler and roast the peelings with flavoured oil, spices or even a dab of pesto to create a unique seasonal snack. 

What can I do with my whole pumpkin?

If you’re looking for easy ways to reuse your pumpkin without setting foot in the kitchen, why not consider these simple alternatives.

Use it as a serving dish

Once hollowed out and cleaned, a pumpkin makes a great bowl for serving dips or snacks. If you’ve carved holes in the side, line your pumpkin with baking paper, foil or compostable plastic wrap to prevent leaking.

Donate it to a farm or animal shelter

Many animals such as pigs and goats will happily munch on your preloved pumpkin. Contact your local animal shelter, farm or wildlife sanctuary to see if they accept donations.

Create a bird feeder

Create an eco-friendly bird feeder by using strong twine, wire or a chain to cradle the pumpkin and hang it in your garden. Fill it with birdseed and watch your local bird population take advantage of your new snack station. Be sure to take the pumpkin down and compost it once it starts to go bad.

Composting

If you have a garden, you can break your pumpkin into pieces and bury them in your garden or add them to your compost bin. Pumpkins release plant-friendly nutrients into your soil, helping to boost productivity in your garden.

We hope you’ll be able to put some of these pumpkin-based suggestions into practice and help to reduce food waste.

At Capital City College (CCC), students enrolled on courses through our School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts and Hospitality Skills Academy benefit from opportunities to learn about food sustainability and waste from industry experts. Whether they’re exploring sustainable food practices and alternative proteins or learning about stock control and creating waste-free dishes, students at CCC are continually learning how to get the most out of their ingredients.

Are you interested in learning how to create fantastic-tasting dishes? Apply for our culinary arts courses!

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