How to Make Pumpkin Puree? [Stove-top method]

It is only recently that I have started using pumpkins more often. I have always liked it as a child and made no fuss eating them, when mum made them. But somehow, in my own kitchen, I have not cooked with pumpkins until a few months back.

Pumpkin is nutritious vegetable that has a sweet flavour to it. And the options to cook with them is endless. My favourite till now has been a simple tempered pumpkin side dish to go with Rice and dal. But after I dished out a healthy Spinach and Pumpkin Pasta, this is definitely the top on the list :) The succulent flavour of pumpkin puree I used for this pasta, made me love the veggie more.

When I made this for the first time, I searched the net for method to puree the pumpkin and found most of them gave the microwave method to do it. It sounded easy, but I wanted a stove top method. I experimented using a pressure cooker and was mighty glad with the output :)

Raw pumpkin slice

• Cut the pumpkin into manageable pieces. About the size that would fit comfortably into your pressure cooker.

Immerse in water and pressure cook for 10 mins

• Lay them inside the pressure cooker and fill with water until the pieces are completely immersed.
• Pressure cook for about 5 minutes on medium flame, without the whistle on. (like you would make idlies).
• After 5 minutes, check if the pumpkin pieces are soft at the touch of a fork. Poke the fork at random spots of the pumpkin pieces, the fork should poke in easily.
• If its not cooked yet, allow to pressure cook for another 5 minutes. 

Boiled pumpkin pieces

• Once cooked, drain out the water and transfer the pieces into a bowl.

Scoop out the pumpkin pulp

• Using a spoon, scoop out the pumpkin pulp off the skin.

Discard the skin

• After all of the pumpkin pulp has been scooped out clean off the skin, discard the skin.



Mash the pulp in to a smooth puree

• Using a spoon, mash the pumpkin pulp into a fine puree, free of any lumps.
• You can store this in an air-tight container in the refrigerator or use it immediately.

Suggested Recipes: Spinach and Pumpkin Pasta