October 31, 2008

Roasted Pie-Pumpkin Chutney - Spice it up

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Have you ever tried to make something that you wouldn't normally associate with a vegetable or fruit? I bet you have at some point. This is one such recipe, taking sweet pie-pumpkin and turning it into something hot and fiery.

Pie-pumpkins are the smaller, sweeter variety of pumpkins, and have a firmer and a bright orange flesh.
Yes, they are slightly sweet, but you won't even taste it by the time you are done making the chutney.
Please do bear in mind, that this is a nice spicy/hot chutney (not for the faint of heart), the dried red chillies added were primarily to balance out the sweetness that is naturally associated with these little pie pumpkins.

As I have mentioned in the ingredients list, you could adjust the heat by lowering or adding more red chillies.
I just threw in all of my favorite things that I would normally add while making any chutney, or creating one like this for that matter.

There are very few spices as such in this dish, one that I would like to mention today is turmeric.
Turmeric has a component called "curcumin" and is emerging as a natural agent that helps fight cancer. It is also anti-inflammatory and acts as an antioxidant.
Indian cooking uses a lot of turmeric in most of the gravies, spice mixes and some savory dishes. It has graced this chutney as well.

Verdict: One of the best chutneys my kitchen helped me cook up. Delish!

Roasted Pie-Pumpkin Spicy Chutney

Ingredients:

Pie Pumpkin - 1
Onion - 2 medium (large dice)
Tomato - 2 medium (large dice)
Cumin - 1 tsp
Dried Red chillies - 4-5 (I added like 10!)
Ginger - An inch
Garlic - 3 big cloves
Turmeric - 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves - 6-7 leaves
Asafoetida (Hing) - A pinch or two
Salt - To taste
Olive oil - 2 tbsp
Sesame seeds - To sprinkle on top

Method:

Preheat oven to 375F.

Cut pie-pumpkin into smaller pieces (3 or 4 depending on size). Place them on a baking tray. Drizzle a little oil on it, and bake it at 375F for 40 min or more. Insert a knife, and check for doneness.
You should be able to scoop out the flesh after roasting in the oven.

roast

In a pan, heat oil. Add the cumin, curry leaves, garlic and ginger and saute.

Add the red chillies and turmeric.

Add the diced onions, and fry until translucent. Then add the tomatoes.

Saute all the ingredients till it is slightly soft, not mushy.

saute

Add the pumpkin flesh that you scooped out earlier, salt, asafoetida and mix everything together under medium heat and let it roast for about 5 minutes.

In a blender, add some water, add the pumpkin mixture and salt and grind till smooth.

Taste at this point, and adjust salt/heat to your taste. If it is too mild, add some red pepper flakes and grind together.
If it is too hot, try drizzling oil as you grind.

Spoon onto serving bowl, top off with a few sesame seeds. Can be served with Indian breads, Dosai/Idli, or even like a spread in sandwiches.

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This goes to:
Madhuram's AFAM-Pumpkin event

53 comments:

  1. Hi
    Cool Chutney .....Very interesting ..Will surely try this..

    love
    veena

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  2. chutney looks yum.. Nice idea to roast the pumpkin.

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  3. Pumpkin chuteny a new recipe for me.. loveluy [ics. nice color for the chutney

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  4. it's raining pumpkins now and ur timig is just perfect :) beautiful pic

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  5. What an awesome recipe Anu,love to try out soon. Thanks for sharing.

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  6. Thats an interesting one Divya,thanx for sharing the recipe!

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  7. I have heard about pie pumpkins.but roasted chutney is first time for me.It looks delish as you said.

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  8. This is soooo innovative!Bookmarking this ... gotta make it asap. :-)

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  9. Very creative Divya...loved the idea of pumpkin chutney will give it a try soon...you could probably submit this for the original recipe event in case you are interested...

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  10. an amazing idea for chutney! love the flavors here!

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  11. looks really nice .. new to me .. shall try this

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  12. Y-U-M-M-Y! I have made this chutney with t he usual ones and not with the lil ones...cute looking pumpkin huh?luved the 2nd pic da....antha kutti pumkina cut panna unaku eppidi manasu vanthuthu?lol!

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  13. nice recipe and beautiful pictures..

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  14. Cool idea!! Fiery spices with sweet pumpkin...(thats what I did with mine this time).

    I have loads of pumpkins...can't wait to use them us. Will definitely make this.

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  15. I imagine the nice flavor of pumpkin and spice. Would be a great for idlis ....Pict makes me drool!

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  16. Great recipe and terrific photos! I've never thought of making pumpkin chutney before.

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  17. Pumkin chutney for Halloween????
    Looks delicious.

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  18. new one. good try and lovely color yr chutney. tempting to try it.

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  19. Chutney looks amazing..Thx for the recipe:)

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  20. mmmmmm fantastic mouthwatering recipe

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  21. This chutney looks colouful and spicy!

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  22. Hooo.....I could seea whole lot of pumpkin recipes going around....all in for halloween mood.....

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  23. Divya,thanks for the question and comment.I have updated the post regarding this.This sauce is a milk caramel sauce.Well I have not changed the title though ;)
    Normal caramelization is with sugar,but for making candies and the caramel dessert sauce,this milk caramel sauce is used and then flavours like chocolate are added.You can also make it with brown sugar.

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  24. A Spicy chutney with pumpkins,now why didn't i think of that:)

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  25. enna ennamo panni kalaku po! what an imagination :)

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  26. Spicy chutney with pumpkin, love ur creativity...chutney looks delicious Anu...would love to have them with steaming hot idlies..

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  27. wow that sounds really interesting. looks delicious.

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  28. you are so innovative divya. that chutney looks super yum :)

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  29. wow this is quite interesting recipe. we find so many pumpkins these days due to haloween.

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  30. So creative.. Looks yummy :) Love Pumpkins

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  31. Chutney with pie pumpkin! very creative Anu :)

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  32. ooh, love the idea of making spicy chutney out of pumpkin! looks so colorful and yummy!

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  33. very creative! its first time to me.

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  34. Interesting recipe, the black sesame seeds at a nice touch.

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  35. hi anu,thanks for ur comments on microwave with cheese.i will be waiting for ur recipes...
    pumpkin chutney looks yummy..

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  36. "Roasted Pie-Pumpkin Chutney" is looking yummy & creative,would surely like to try as a change :-)

    Regards,
    Vibha.

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  37. I'm all for converting sweet pumpkins into a fiery chutney - looks delicious.

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  38. Wooo I saw those chiles and I had to take a step backwards. Now that is a spicy and savory pumpkin dish! I'm excited your came up with this idea, the colors rock :)

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  39. Wow, my husband would love this.

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  40. u have something surprise on my blog..

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  41. Yummy looking pumpkin chutney, loved the pictures that went with the prep work.

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  42. that does look tongue-tickling Anu!:)

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  43. I've never seen this before, it looks wonderful!

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  44. looks yummy.. will sure give it a shot

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  45. Really like the fact that you roasted the pumpkin........what a diff that makes.yummy chutney

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  46. that is so beautiful! i just made pumpkin bread last night and that would be a nice topping on it.

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  47. Pumpkin chutney looks yummy.....

    Wishing you Happy Halloween

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  48. Have an award awing you plz pick it up at my blog :)

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  49. I like ur innovations in all the recipes Divya..chancey illa..very good chutney.epdi ipdi laam yosikara?keep up the good work.

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  50. Hey Divya, you are on a roll with all your innovative ideas in the kitchen. Roasted pumpkin chutney is definitely an interesting recipe. Thanks for the entry.

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  51. This looks very good. The garnish looks interesting.
    We make a coconut pumpkin thick chutney at home so I'm sure this is really good.

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  52. very innvoative! Will try the chutney sometime. Pie also looks yum!

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Thank you for taking the time to comment on this post. I will try to respond to queries as soon as I can. If I miss anything that needs to be addressed... please feel free to ping me again.
Happy cooking/baking or whatever it is you are doing in the kitchen! :)