Cook & Learn: Pumpkin Hummus
Recipe: Pumpkin Hummus
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 (15-oz.) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup tahini
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more for garnish
1/2 teaspoon paprika, plus more for garnish
Kosher salt
1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds, for garnish
Pita chips, for serving
History of Pumpkin
Known in the U.S. for their uses as jack-o-lanterns and in pumpkin pies for holidays, domesticated pumpkin seeds were first found by archaeologists in the Oaxaca Highlands in Mexico. Though the original variety was different with a bitter flavor and smaller size, historians believe that pumpkins originated over 7,500 years ago in Central America. In North America, pumpkins were among some of the first crops grown for people to eat. The thick flesh of pumpkins was prized for its ease of storage during cold weather when other food sources were scarce. One of the earliest American recipes for pumpkin was for a side dish recipe in the early 1670s, and it later came into use in sweetened holiday dishes in the 1800s.
Medical Properties of Pumpkin
Pumpkin supplies vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber that help support healthy blood pressure and healthy cholesterol levels. The liver can also be protected by eating pumpkin, and the fiber in pumpkin aids in health digestion and in maintaining a healthy weight. Vitamin A, vitamin C, and zinc consumed from pumpkin helps to boost the immune system against colds and other viruses. Antioxidants in pumpkin also fight against free radicals to help in aging healthily, and protein and zinc in pumpkin seeds help with recovery when consumed after a workout.
Surprising Facts About Pumpkin
Pumpkin helps protect the liver by removing harmful substances from the bloodstream. Along with their many health benefits, pumpkins can grow to become massive in size. A pumpkin that weighed in at 2,624.6 pounds was recorded in Belgium in 2016. Indigenous people of North America have grown pumpkins as a crop for thousands of years, even before corn and beans were grown as crops. Members of the gourd family, including pumpkins, watermelons, cucumbers, zucchinis, cantaloupes, and others, grow on all the continents of the world except for Antarctica.
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Sources
https://www.pbs.org/food/the-history-kitchen/history-pumpkins-recipes/
https://www.history.com/news/pumpkin-facts-halloween-jack-o-lantern
