Autumn is a time for warm aromas, homemade preserves, and family evenings with a jar of something delicious. Pumpkin is the star of this season: bright, healthy, and incredibly versatile.
You can make both sweet treats and savory snacks from it.
We have prepared three tried-and-true recipes that will help you preserve a piece of autumn in jars and enjoy pumpkin all winter long.
1. “Like Mango” Preserved Pumpkin
This preserve surprises with its taste — during cooking, the pumpkin becomes sweet, tender, and reminds of ripe mango. A great alternative to traditional jam that children and adults will enjoy.
Ingredients:
- pumpkin — 3 kg
- lemon — 1 pc
- orange — 3 pcs
- sugar — 600 g
- citric acid — 10 g
Preparation:
- Cut the pumpkin in half, remove seeds and peel. Cut the flesh into small cubes about 3 cm in size.
- Grate the zest from one orange and one lemon, avoiding the white part — it is bitter.
- Peel and cut one orange and the lemon into cubes, removing seeds.
- In a large bowl, mix pumpkin, citrus zest, and citrus cubes. Add sugar and citric acid, mix well.
- Leave the mixture for 3 hours to allow the pumpkin to release juice.
- Transfer the mixture to sterilized jars, pour the juice over it, and place the jars in a pot with a towel at the bottom. Add water so it almost covers the jars.
- Bring to a boil and sterilize for 60 minutes.
- Seal tightly, cool, and store in a dark, cool place.
2. Pumpkin in a Spicy Marinade — for Savory Dishes
Aromatic, slightly spicy pumpkin is an ideal snack for meat, cheese, or hot potatoes. Thanks to the spices, it gains a rich flavor and keeps well throughout the winter.
Ingredients:
- pumpkin — 1 kg
- water — 500 ml
- 9% vinegar — 2 tbsp
- sugar — 1.5 cups
- salt — 1 tsp
- cloves — 10 pcs
- allspice — 8 pcs
- nutmeg — 1 tsp
- cinnamon stick — 1 pc
- ground ginger — 0.5 tsp
Preparation:
- Peel the pumpkin, remove seeds, and cut into cubes.
- Place in a pot, add sugar, salt, and vinegar, and pour in warm water. Let marinate overnight.
- Wrap cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and allspice in cheesecloth, tie into a pouch.
- Add the spice pouch to the pot and cook the pumpkin for 10 minutes after boiling.
- Remove the pouch, distribute pumpkin into sterilized jars, and pour hot marinade over it.
- Close with sterilized lids, cool, and store in a dark place.
3. Spicy Pickled Pumpkin with Horseradish and Mustard
This recipe will be a favorite for those who love bold flavors. Horseradish and mustard seeds add sharpness, while pumpkin remains tender and slightly sweet. This snack pairs perfectly with meat and fish dishes.
Ingredients:
- pumpkin — 1 kg
- mustard seeds — 1 tbsp
- garlic — 1 clove
- bay leaf — 1 pc
- black peppercorns — 4 pcs
- horseradish root — 15 g
For the marinade (per 1 liter of water):
- salt — 1 tbsp
- sugar — 1 tbsp
- 9% vinegar — 60 ml
Preparation:
- Peel the pumpkin, cut into cubes, and blanch in boiling water for 5 minutes. Drain in a colander.
- To make the marinade, bring water to a boil, add salt and sugar. After boiling, pour in the vinegar.
- Place bay leaf, mustard seeds, peppercorns, garlic, and horseradish pieces at the bottom of sterilized jars.
- Put the blanched pumpkin cubes on the spices, pour the hot marinade over.
- Sterilize for 15 minutes (for 1-liter jars), seal tightly, and turn upside down.
- Wrap in a towel until completely cool and store in a cool place.
Want to feel the aroma and warmth of autumn in winter? Choose your favorite recipe or try all three — let the pumpkin in jars delight you with bright flavors even during the coldest days.
Read also about 7 Warming Autumn Drinks
To be continued…
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