🎃 Preparing a Halloween pumpkin without waste: tips & recipes

For a spooky but above all edible decoration, opt for a butternut squash or a pumpkin : they carve well and their flesh is delicious. Large orange pumpkins are perfect for carving, but their flesh is also edible (a little more fibrous). Choose a local squash, firm, without spots or soft parts. 🛒

1. Washing & Cutting : Rinse the squash well under water to remove any soil. Cut a "cap" around the stem with a sturdy knife (be careful of your fingers! 🧤).
2. Scoop out : Using a large spoon, remove the flesh and seeds. Set them aside in two bowls: the flesh for cooking, the seeds for roasting.
3. Carving : Draw your design with a marker and then slowly carve it out. The thicker the squash, the more fun you can have with the details! Use the scraps for a puree.

Find a complete tutorial on how to carve a Halloween pumpkin 🪓.

• Pumpkin soup 🥣: Sauté the onion, add the flesh, cover with water (or broth) and mix with cream or coconut milk.
• Melting gratin 🧀: Mix the diced flesh with potatoes, herbs, a little Emmental cheese, bake in the oven.
• Soft puree 🥄: Mash the cooked flesh with butter and nutmeg.
• Roasted seeds 🥜: Clean them, dry them, mix with oil/spices, roast in the oven at 180°C until golden and crispy (10-15 min). Perfect as an aperitif!
• Roasted Cubes 🍠: Dice the flesh and roast them with olive oil, garlic, and paprika, then add them to a salad or air fryer for extra crunch.

You can also incorporate the flesh into a savory cake, a quiche, or even a sweet tart. Zero waste, zero guilt! 🌱

• Use the decoration to the fullest : If your squash hasn't dried out too much or gone moldy, cook it quickly after the party (max 2–3 days in a cool indoor environment).
• Compost 💚: If it is no longer edible, cut it into pieces and put it in the compost, this will enrich the garden soil!
• Extend freshness : Keep the pieces of flesh fresh in an airtight container, or freeze them in raw cubes for your next soups.
• Recycle the shell : You can turn the shell into a flower pot, bird feeder or natural candle. 🕯️

Of course, all squashes are allowed: butternut squash, pumpkin, butternut squash... Some are easier to carve and much tastier to cook! For example, try the Lorraine pumpkin for its sweet, melt-in-the-mouth flesh.

After carving, a squash can be stored for 2 to 3 days indoors, in a cool, dry place. To prevent mold, rub the inside with a little white vinegar. Don't wait too long to cook it! 🕰️

The skin of butternut squash and pumpkin becomes tender when cooked and is easy to eat. For classic pumpkin, it's best to remove it; it remains quite tough.

Try spices like curry, cumin, or cinnamon. Add coconut milk, goat cheese, or even roasted hazelnuts. In a gratin, in a risotto, or simply roasted with maple syrup… Let your creativity run wild! ✨