It’s the spookiest time of the year which means one thing: pumpkins. But what happens after the sweets have been devoured, the tricks have been played and Halloween has been and gone?
We’re all about fighting food waste here at Spinneys, and scary jack-o'-lanterns aside, there are several ways to reuse your pumpkin come 1 November (and no, we’re not just talking about pumpkin pies and soup).
From seedy snacks to DIY pampering (and the chicest doughnuts you’ve ever seen), here are some alternative ways to use up any pumpkins that are leftover from Halloween.
Get Halloween ready today
Super seeds
Pumpkin seeds are chock-full in antioxidants, vitamins and healthy fats, and are even considered to be one of the best natural sources of stress-busting magnesium. When prepping and gutting your jack-o’-lantern this Halloween, make sure to keep these super seeds aside. Gently rinse them, removing any stringy fibres before thoroughly drying them with a towel – this helps keep the seeds crisp when roasting. And now it’s time to get creative. We’d recommend seasoning your seeds with extra virgin olive oil, garlic salt, cracked pepper and a punchy spice like smoked paprika. Once your seeds are well-coated with your seasoning of choice, pop them in the oven – preheated to 180°C – for roughly 15 minutes, or until golden brown, making sure to check and toss them every five minutes. For a sweet snack, brown sugar and cinnamon complement the pumpkin seeds’ almost nutty flavour.
Pumpkin pampering
Pumpkins can help keep both your skin and hair happy this autumn. Puréed and combined with unrefined coconut oil and honey, this three-ingredient hair mask will leave your locks feeling smooth and soft with a shiny autumnal glow. Rich in vitamins A and C as well as zinc, if dry skin is your main concern, we’ve got the pumpkin pampering solution for you. Mix cooked and blended pumpkin with a cup of brown sugar and a couple of tablespoons of almond oil for a delightful DIY body scrub (just try not to eat any of it while scrubbing your skin smooth – don’t say we didn’t warn you).
Orange thumb
A simple way to repurpose your Halloween pumpkin is to use it in your own garden. Deseed your pumpkin (unless you're attempting to harvest your very own pumpkin patch) and smash it up before adding it to your compost pile. Compost novice? Find a shady spot in your garden to place your homemade fertiliser, cover loosely with leaves, and let nature do its work.
Autumnal eating
There's a wealth of exciting pumpkin-based recipes for you to explore this autumn – from pumpkin and black bean falafel with carrot tzatziki to pumpkin-spiced bomboloni with cinnamon custard, head here for our pick of the best dishes to whip up this pumpkin season. When it comes to cooking with pumpkins, don't disregard the rind and stringy fibre. Peeled and roasted with good quality olive oil and a generous pinch of sea salt and pepper, the rind can make a tasty and healthy alternative to crisps while the stringy insides, when boiled, can add flavour to a wonderfully warming stock.
