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The Kitchen Table

Can I substitute pumpkin?

10 years ago

I',m trying to broaden my 'cooking' base. I'd like to start cooking with winter squashes, pumpkin, parsnips and some other veggies I almost never see on the menu anywhere. I'm always a bit hesitant because some of the spices give me migraine type headaches. I found this recipe and don't have a problem with the ingredients as is, but I thought maybe it's be quicker and easier if I used canned pumpkin. Does pumpkin make a decent substitute for butternut squash?

Roasted Butternut Squash and Bacon Soup

Ingredients

1 butternut squash (about 3 pounds), peeled, seeded and cut in 1-inch chunks
1 onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, chopped
4 slices bacon, diced
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For the soup
4 slices bacon, diced
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
2 1/2 cups chicken stock, or more, to taste
1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese
2 tablespoons chopped chives

Here is the FULL Recipe if anyone is interested.

Featured Answer

hounds_x_two

10 years ago

I think the canned pumpkin will work o.k., but the roasted squash or pumpkin would be better. It is denser, and has a better flavor.

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Comments (8)

morz8 - Washington Coast
10 years ago
In your recipe, the squash, peppers, onion, garlic, bacon are roasted in a hot oven, but just for a half hour so probably while adding that roasted flavor to the soup, they wouldn't be dark and caramelized (distinctly roasted ;)) The canned pumpkin would give you a little different results but I think still a good soup. As a guess, a squash soup isn't something I regularly make.
User thanked morz8 - Washington Coast
ruthieg__tx
10 years ago
Most canned pumpkin is really a squash,,,I think the recipe would be fine with canned pumpkin.
User thanked ruthieg__tx
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OklaMoni
10 years ago
I love cooking from "scratch". No weird preservatives ever. I would use fresh pumpkin or butternut squash.
User thanked OklaMoni
artemis_ma
10 years ago
Some canned pumpkin sources don't have weird preservatives in the cans. I am pretty sure Trader' Joe's variety is okay this way.
User thanked artemis_ma
User
10 years ago
Canned pumpkin will work just fine. There's plenty of flavor going on in that soup.

More fiber, too!
User thanked User
Rudebekia
10 years ago
Yes pumpkin should be fine. But note that you can often buy peeled, cubed butternut squash. Our Trader Joes, for one, carries it. It is also truly easy, and much more inexpensive, to prepare butternut squash. Just pop it in the microwave for about 3 minutes and peel--comes right off.
User thanked Rudebekia
OklaMoni
10 years ago
No Trader Joes in a 100 mile radius!
User thanked OklaMoni

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