Packed with fiber, vitamins and minerals
In the fairy tale of Cinderella, the pumpkin is transformed into a carriage. But this quintessential fall vegetable is so much more than a potential means of transportation. Pumpkin is very tasty and above all very healthy. For your eyes, for example, but also for the prostate.
You might not think it at first glance, but the pumpkin is related to the cucumber, gherkin and zucchini. These vegetables are officially called the Curcubitacea family: the cucurbits. The fruits grow on plants low to the ground.
Types
Everyone knows the big orange giant pumpkin, but there are many different types. In the Netherlands you will also find much smaller varieties in the vegetable department, such as the pattison (white and oval), winter squash (pale orange with waxy skin), acorn squash (heart-shaped, dark green with orange spots) and spaghetti squash (elongated, pale yellow, long-grained flesh) .
Fiber and vitamins
Pumpkins have not been known as vegetables for very long in the Netherlands, most people mainly use pumpkins as decoration. The fact that the pumpkin is delicious and also very healthy is slowly starting to dawn. The fruit has a low energy value (few calories), but contains a lot of fiber. Very good for the digestion. Pumpkin is also rich in calcium, iron, vitamins C and E.
Especially the orange pumpkin is full of beta carotene which is converted in the body into vitamin A. This vitamin is good for the skin, but also helps to see well. A deficiency of this vitamin can lead to dry eyes and disturbed night vision.
pumpkin seeds
The pumpkin seeds are also very healthy. Nowadays we often come across the seeds in bread, but they are also available separately or in pumpkin seed oil. In addition, pumpkin seeds are often used in dietary supplements for a healthy bladder or prostate function. This is not without reason: pumpkin seeds strengthen the bladder and prostate.
Buy and keep
Pumpkins are widely available in the fall and winter. When buying a pumpkin, make sure that the fruit is firm and has no soft spots. Thereafter keep you put the whole pumpkin in a cool dry place, no colder than 8 degrees. At that temperature, the pumpkin can be kept for up to two months. A piece of sliced pumpkin, wrapped in aluminum or cling film, can be kept in the refrigerator for three to five days. You can also freeze pumpkin if you wish.
Cleaning and preparing
Before preparing pumpkin, it is important to wash the pumpkin well. Then halve the pumpkin and cut the pumpkin into slices. Remove the threads and seeds with a spoon or knife. Cut the flesh into cubes. Peeling is not necessary. The skin can be eaten and softens well when heated. When cooking or stir-frying pumpkin, expect a cooking time of five to ten minutes.
Want to get started with pumpkin? Then try this delicious pumpkinsoup.
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