It might surprise you to learn that pumpkin can be a fantastic base for a creamy cheese sauce. This vegan Halloween version of the traditional Mac ‘n’ cheese is just as good as the original and is much healthier!
This healthy, fall-inspired vegan version of the cozy and nourishing classic Recipe of Pumpkin Cheese Macaroni, is not only for Halloween 2022, but you can enjoy it year-round.
Do you know how the pumpkin became a symbol of Halloween?
Halloween is a time of year when kids dress up in costumes, go trick-or-treating, and eat lots of candy. But do you know how the pumpkin became a symbol of Halloween?
The pumpkin was originally used for its seeds and oil, but it wasn’t until the 1800s that people began carving them into lanterns to ward off evil spirits.
One of the reasons pumpkins are used on Halloween is that it’s easy to sculpt faces and drawings in this vegetable. But where exactly does this strange tradition come from?
A Celtic Tradition
The practice of using vegetables to scare away evil spirits originated in Ireland. It was thought that the dead may return to Earth on October 31st during the pagan Samhain celebration, which over time evolved into Halloween. Therefore, they needed a strategy for warding off bad spirits. They began by carving faces into turnips to frighten away the evil spirits.
Ancient Celtic pagans thought that certain vegetables would protect them from evil spirits if they cut a face into it and placed it under their bed for the night. This gave rise to the custom of carving faces into pumpkins. The pumpkin carving custom is more likely to have started in 16th-century England, where pumpkins were common and they were a source of entertainment in people’s homes.
Later, utilizing apples and potatoes became popular. Then, in the 1600s, it was brought to England by Queen Elizabeth I, when jack-o’-lanterns were constructed out of pumpkins. It is thought that she brought pumpkins from Ireland, where it was already customary to carve faces into them around Samhain.
The use of English term Jack O’Lantern for a Halloween pumpkin also came from Ireland. According to legend, a man by the name of Jack was able to defeat the devil during a deal and stop the demon from stealing his soul. However, due to Jack’s bad, frugal, and selfish character throughout his life, he was not sent to hell as promised and was not allowed to enter heaven at the time of his death.
As a result, people started painting gruesome faces on their vegetables to scare Jack away from their houses. Jack’s spirit was now destined to wander for all of eternity. According to another version of this tale, it was an ancient term for the lights that occurred in cemeteries.
Every Halloween, people in the US and UK build scary lanterns, but poor pumpkins appear to be forgotten when it comes to cooking. But you’re about to fall in love with this overlooked vegetable with our tasty recipes with pumpkins.
Pumpkins are not only useful in cooking, but they also provide a lot of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They can be substituted for other squash vegetables, and because of their sweetness, they are also suitable for use in a variety of desserts.
If you enjoyed this dish, explore more of our recipes:
Recipe of Avacado Home-Made Ranch Dressing Click Here
Recipe of Halloween Pumpkin Barmbrack Bread Click Here
It’s the ideal time to test out this beautiful vegetable in a few recipes, whether you buy a whole pumpkin specifically for cooking, a can of pumpkin puree, or use the flesh from your pumpkin lantern this Halloween.
Recipe of Pumpkin Cheese Macaroni for Halloween 2022
INGREDIENTS
750g fresh pumpkin, peeled and cut into 2cm cubes
145g (1 3/4 cups) coarsely grated cheddar
25g (1/3 cup) grated parmesan
2 onions, chopped
50g butter
500ml hot vegetable stock
3 garlic cloves, peeled and left whole
1tsp Dijon mustard
¼ tsp nutmeg powdered
Freshly grounded black pepper, to taste
320g macaroni pasta
1tsp cornflour (make a paste with 2tsp cold water)
3tbsp yeast (optional)
3/4 cup fresh breadcrumbs
2 tsp fresh thyme leaves, plus extra sprigs, to serve
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
PREPARATION
Step 1 - Prepare Pumpkin Sauce
Preheat the oven to 180C/160C.. Place the pieces of pumpkins on a baking tray and bake for 20 minutes. Check until a skewer easily pierces the pumpkins. Set aside to cool slightly.
Add the pumpkin, vegetable stock, onions, garlic, nutmeg, mustard, and black pepper to a large pan.
Place the pan over medium heat, cover and cook gently for around 30 minutes, Stir occasionally.
Set the pan aside to cool a little.
Once it is cool down, add the pumpkin mix to a blender and blend until smooth.
Step 2 - Prepare Cheese Sauce
Heat the butter in a saucepan over medium heat until foaming. Add the corn flour and cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until bubbling.
Remove from the heat and gradually add the milk, whisking constantly.
Return to the heat and cook for 2-3 minutes, until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
Add nutmeg. Gradually stir in three-quarters of the combined cheddar and parmesan until melted. Set aside until required.
Step 3 - Boil Macaroni
Bring a fresh pan of water to a boil. Once boiling, add the macaroni to the water and cook until soft.
Once cooked, drain the macaroni and return to the pan.
Add the pumpkin sauce and mix well to coat the macaroni fully.
Add the corn flour and cheese sauce and stir to thicken.
Remove from the heat, stir in the yeast (optional), season with extra black pepper if desired and serve with a sprinkle of nutmeg on top.
Step 4 - Further Seasoning
Combine breadcrumbs, thyme, oil, and remaining cheese in a bowl.
Step 6 - Garnishing
Sprinkle with the breadcrumb mixture and bake for 15 minutes or until the breadcrumbs are golden and the cheese is melted. Scatter with extra thyme leaves to serve.
Your PUMPKIN CHEESE MACARONI is ready to eat. Enjoy!
If you enjoyed the recipe, let us know in the comments, and don’t forget to post pictures of the dishes you created using it.
Happy Halloween!
Photo Credit: www.pexels.com
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