Pumpkin is one of the most used vegetables in the diets of those who seek to lose weight or eat healthy, although many times the only option to consume it is in puree accompanying a chicken steak. However, it is a very versatile vegetable that can be included in an infinity of sweet and savory preparations. For this reason, this time we want to teach you how to prepare pumpkin baskets, very similar to pumpkin empanadas, so that you can use them as lunch at school, work or as a light and healthy dinner. At the end of the preparation we provide you with some ideas to accompany them so that you complete your dish. In this article we teach you how to make pumpkin baskets. Let’s go there!
Ingredients to make Pumpkin Baskets:
• 12 empanada discs
• 6 slices of pumpkin
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 tablespoon cream or cream cheese
• 1 teaspoon of nutmeg
• 1 pinch of pepper
• 60 grams of fresh cheese (optional)
How to make Pumpkin Baskets:
To get started with the pumpkin baskets recipe, first peel and dice the pumpkin. We recommend that you use a potato peeler to remove the skin without wasting part of the vegetable, as happens when we peel it with a knife. Cook the pumpkin in the microwave in a suitable and covered container for about 15 minutes, also add 1 clove of peeled garlic. If you don’t have a microwave, you can steam it for about the same amount of time. With either method, you’ll keep all of the pumpkin’s nutrients. On the other hand, if you boil it, some will be lost in the water.
When the pumpkin is cooked, mash it together with the garlic clove to make a puree. Then season to taste with the nutmeg, pepper and cream or cream cheese. Try it and make sure you like the taste.
Tip: if you wish, you can add corn and make some exquisite pumpkin and corn baskets.
Line a muffin tin with the empanada tops to form the baskets.
Tip: if you don’t have these molds, you can line the base of a clean can with the empanada lid and cook it for 5 minutes in the oven. When it is slightly crispy, you can remove it and fill it to heat it with the filling.
Fill the baskets with the pumpkin puree and, if you want to add cheese, make a small hole in the center. Add the diced fresh cheese and cook your pumpkin baskets in a preheated oven at 200ºC or 220ºC for about 12-15 minutes until the dough is lightly golden. Let’s eat the delicious pumpkin baskets!
With what to accompany the pumpkin baskets
Pumpkin is a sweet vegetable that combines wonderfully with other slightly more bitter vegetables. For example, you can serve along with your baskets some arugula or radicheta leaves with a little balsamic vinegar and grated cheese or poached egg.
