Ode to the Pumpkin

The pumpkin is underestimated. It is underestimated and under-utilized like a trophy wife and a kept man. There is so much more that can be done than just gutting, carving and displaying (the pumpkin, that is). There's nothing that rings in the holidays better than the pumpkin. Since Thanksgiving is Houstonist's favorite holiday (all's to do is eat, drink, watch football and take naps...what's not to love?), we wanted to share with you all the wonders of this savory sweet gourd.

The pumpkin, multifunctional and multi-talented as it is, is technically a fruit but cooked like a vegetable. There are plenty of things you can do with pumpkins, including carving (duh) and chucking (it's a real sport, unlike cow-tipping). In Japan, pumpkin is often used to refer to an unattractive woman. However, in the American south, pumpkin (pronounced 'pun-kin') is often used as a term of endearment. Unattractive women and terms of endearment aside, our favorite use of the pumpkin involves eating it. Haters may think it bland and unappealing, but done correctly, nothing makes us get into the holiday spirit like a nice pumpkin dish. Pumpkins are high in vitamin A and the seeds are a great source of iron, zinc, potassium and magnesium. This holiday season, try throwing some pumpkin seeds in your salads and stuffing or scatter it on top of your casserole for a crunchy, healthy finish. Grill up the flesh and glaze with some maple syrup or throw it in some thai curry. The beauty of pumpkin is that it has a sweet flavor that works great in savory dishes. It also makes delicious desserts. Instead of using canned pumpkin for your pumpkin pie, think about boiling up some fresh pumpkin and pureeing it in a food processor (cut the pumpkin in chunks and discard the rind and the inner guts). Instead of using cornbread in your stuffing, try pumpkin muffins instead. If you're still not sold on pumpkin on your plate, you can still have it on your holiday table. Carve out the top of a small pumpkin, gut it and use it as a vase for your floral centerpiece.

If pumpkin has been good to your eyes but hasn't passed your lips, try out some of these dishes from our local restaurants:
- Tart Cafe (4411 Montrose): John put a pumpkin tart on the menu just for the holidays. Not unlike a pumpkin pie, the tart is a bit more refined and the filling a bit more dense.
- T'afia (3701 Travis): try their pumpkin cheesecake, always made from organic ingredients. Monica may have some other seasonal pumpkin specials too.
- Treviso (6550 Bertner): they have a savory butternut squash soup with pumpkin seeds and creme fraiche. Mmmm.
- Central Market (3815 Westheimer): Certain Houstonists (who will remain nameless but may or may not love all things sports-related) drool over the pumpkin ravioli. Literally drool. Like with saliva.
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photo by Judy Le