"Just stir canned pumpkin into the cheese sauce with freshly chopped fresh rosemary, thyme, or sage," said Langan. "Add some freshly grated nutmeg and voila."
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Langan recommended using more robust cheeses, like Gruyere or sharp cheddar, when making pumpkin mac and cheese.
Canned pumpkin can make your curry creamier
If you're looking to add a bit of sweetness and color to your next curry, try stirring in a can of pumpkin purée.
"Canned pumpkin is great in red or yellow curries," said Langan. "The flavor of pumpkin can be rather neutral, so go heavier on the curry paste and fish sauce."
Finish the curry with several squeezes of fresh lime to add a touch of brightness to the dish.
"Make pumpkin butter by simmering canned pumpkin with maple syrup or brown sugar, and then add a few tablespoons of butter and a dash of pumpkin-pie spice," said Langan.
Cool the mixture and store it in the fridge. You can also dip apples in it or swirl it into oatmeal.
Use it to make a filling smoothie with an autumnal twist
For a sweet drink that feels like fall, Langan said she recommends adding canned pumpkin and pecans to a smoothie.
"All you have to do is blend a spoonful of pumpkin with milk, a frozen banana, vanilla protein powder, a handful of toasted pecans, and ice," said Langan.
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For extra autumnal flavor, add a sprinkle of cinnamon or pumpkin-pie spice.
Try adding canned pumpkin and maple syrup to your mashed potatoes
Robert Carr, executive chef at La Cantera Resort and Spa, told Insider that he likes to use pumpkin and maple syrup to give mashed potatoes a unique twist.
"Pumpkin adds such depth of flavor to buttery whipped potatoes," said Carr. "Just take your favorite mashed-potato recipe and add pumpkin purée and maple syrup to taste."
If necessary, reduce the amount of cream or butter in your mashed-potato recipe to keep the dish from becoming too watery after the addition of the pumpkin purée.
Canned pumpkin can be used as an egg substitute for vegan bread
"You can use a quarter of a cup of canned pumpkin for each egg your bread recipe calls for," said Wilk. "It adds delicious nutrients and a slight pumpkin flavor."
Wilk suggested trying pumpkin as an egg replacer in zucchini bread.
You can make a dairy-free creamy pasta sauce with pumpkin
"Make a creamy sauce for pasta by using pumpkin as the 'cream' element in a tomato sauce," said Wilk. "I especially love serving this sauce with squash ravioli."
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If you're not ready to totally cut the cream from your pasta sauce, try replacing half of the amount called for with pumpkin purée.
Make a fall-flavored margarita with canned pumpkin and cider
"Just combine spiced apple cider, tequila, and canned pumpkin in a cocktail shaker. Strain into a glass rimmed with smoky sea salt and you're done," said Baiocchi.
You can adjust the amount of pumpkin purée in this cocktail to your liking, or swap out the tequila for vodka.
Use canned pumpkin to easily whip up a vegan ice cream
For an easy fall dessert, Baiocchi suggested making your own vegan ice cream with bananas and canned pumpkin.
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"In a food processor, add two frozen and chopped bananas, a quarter can of canned pumpkin, and maple syrup to taste," said Baiocchi. "Mix in spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger."
If you prefer a harder ice-cream consistency, simply pop the blended ice cream in the freezer for a few hours.
Pumpkin is a sweet addition to classic French toast
Fresh pumpkin can improve the texture of your cake and muffins
If you're making a pumpkin-flavored cake, opt for the fresh fruit instead.
"Fresh pumpkin becomes very creamy when blended," said Debattista. 'This unique texture makes it ideal for baking into a cake."
This tip also applies to other cake-like pumpkin treats, like muffins or sweet breads.
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