A Culinary Guide to Heirloom Pumpkins

Purely Pumpkin is Allison Day's second cookbook, and we're happy that she's here today not only to share her guide to heirloom pumpkins, but to share her recipe for the drink of the season, the Classic Pumpkin Spice Latté.

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My all-pumpkin cookbook, aptly titled Purely Pumpkin: More Than 100 Seasonal Recipes to Share, Savor, and Warm Your Kitchen, is out now. From the creamy interior to the cozy pumpkin spice blend to the crunchy seeds and ludicrously green oil that’s made from the seeds, pumpkin gives us plenty to work with –– and I’ve employed it throughout Purely Pumpkin in more than 100 ways.

Coincidentally, I grew up about five minutes down the road from miles upon miles of pumpkin patches. (I’d like to think this gives me at least some authority on writing an all-pumpkin cookbook!) These fields of humongous fireball freckles dotting the landscape are always waiting to be made into spooky art for your doorstep or edible art for your family and friends. To this day, pumpkin patches continue to instill a sense of cozy wonder in me, making me feel right at home –– partly because they’re quite near my family home, but also because they’re the symbol of the season, generosity, and abundance of good food to come. 

Heirloom Pumpkin Guide

Pumpkin is not a true vegetable due to its anatomy; it’s a fruit, belonging to the Cucurbita family of plants that comes in a variety of different shapes, sizes, colours, textures, and tastes. The terms pumpkin and squash are often interchangeable, as they’re both from the Cucurbita family.

Though not an exhaustive list, the following are the most easily sourced heirloom pumpkin (or squash) varietals. I cover nearly 30(!) heirloom pumpkins in Purely Pumpkin — here are 10 to get you started.

1. American Tonda: Traditionally shaped with alternating vertical marbled green and yellow skin. Contrary to its name, this is an Italian varietal classified for having the “classic” American pumpkin silhouette. It’s delectable roasted, puréed for soups or risotto, and added to salads.
2. Black Futsu: Intensely dark green skin with tiny bumps, a blush of yellow, and busy ribbing. The hearty flesh of this prized Japanese varietal is sweet with notes of hazelnut. Favored preparations include roasting and stuffing.
3. Cinderella: Looks like Cinderella’s pumpkin coach with its flat, round shape and traffic cone–orange exterior. Its flesh is custardy and smooth, making it wonderful roasted whole, stuffed, stewed, or blended into a silky soup.
4. Fairytale/Musquée de Provence: Beautiful, pronounced divots in its burnished, ochre skin. From the south of France, this large pumpkin is often found already sliced into wedges for cooking at French markets, though it can be purchased whole.
5. Flat White Boer: Ivory-skinned, flat, and perfectly pleated. The loud orange flesh is custardy and rich. This pumpkin is idyllic whole roasted or stuffed due to its show-stopping appearance and substantial texture.
6. Galeux d'Eysines: Decorated with “peanuts” on its peach exterior. The more “peanuts,” the sweeter the flesh. This French varietal with supremely delicious meat is excellent for roasting, soups, desserts, stews and more.
7. Hooligan: Very tiny with orange-speckled white skin. Slightly stringy and watery, but works well if hollowed and roasted for use as a soup “bowl.”
8. Jarrahdale: Soft green exterior and melon-like interior. From New Zealand, it’s minimally stringy with a light, fruity flesh. It’s lovely roasted whole, chunked and stewed in a curry, or sliced into wedges and steamed.
9. Marina di Chioggia: An Italian heirloom variety with an evergreen skin and deep orange interior. Its creamy, sturdy flesh was made for ravioli fillings, pasta sauces, gnocchi, and grilling.
10. Porcelain Doll: Baby pink and big. Contains a deep orange, velvety, delicious flesh that can be used for roasting, stuffing, salads, and desserts.

Make Your Own Pumpkin Spice Latte

The drink that started it all –– and you can make it right in your own kitchen with this pumpkin spice latte recipe! Thanks to Detour Coffee’s Director of Coffee, Geoff Woodley, for the expert beverage styling.

4.5 from 8 reviews

Classic Pumpkin Spice Latte

 

Print

Author: Allison Day

Recipe type: Beverage

Serves: Serves 1

Ingredients

Spice Latte Base

• ½ cup tightly packed demerara sugar (dark brown sugar)
• ½ cup water
• ½ cup pumpkin purée
• 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Pumpkin Spice Latte

• 2 ounces brewed espresso or brewed strong coffee
• 2 tablespoons Pumpkin Spice Latté Base
• 1 cup whole milk or milk of choice, steamed
• sweetened whipped cream, for serving
• pumpkin spice, for serving (optional)

Instructions

Spice Latte Base

1. In a medium saucepan, warm water and sugar over medium heat until sugar is dissolved (about 2 minutes). Remove from heat and whisk in remaining ingredients. Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a glass jar. Seal jar and refrigerate for up to 1 month. Shake or stir before use.

Pumpkin Spice Latte

1. In a warm mug, combine espresso and latté base. Top with steamed milk. Serve hot with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin spice, if using.

3.2.2925

Acknowledgement

Excerpt from Purely Pumpkin by Allison Day (Skyhorse Publishing, September 6, 2016)

Save The Recipe Later On Pinterest!

More Reading

• Cookbook Corner: Whole Bowls by Allison Day (our review of Allison's last book!) 
• 20 Pumpkin Spice Recipes
• Pumpkin Spice Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting

Allison Day is the author of Whole Bowls: Complete Gluten-Free and Vegetable Meals to Power Your Day  and Purely Pumpkin: More Than 100 Seasonal Recipes to Share, Savor, and Warm Your Kitchen. She blogs at Yummy Beet and you can find her on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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