I’ve been totally caught by the pumpkin trend! I don’t drink pumpkin lattes, too sweet, but I do love roasted, sautéed, grilled, and smoked pumpkin. And okay, you can hand me your tastiest pumpkin pie and I will have a bite, especially if it is super cold with scented whipped cream.
SO how do you cook pumpkin on the gas grill for a smoky delicious side or dessert dish? Let’s go over a few pumpkin points and tips!
ARE ALL PUMPKINS EDIBLE
Yes, the good news is all pumpkins are edible! However, there are pumpkins grown specifically for baking in contrast to the pumpkins grown as jack-o-lanterns.
WHAT TYPE OF PUMPKIN IS BEST FOR THE GRILL
The best baking pumpkins are labeled as “pie”, “sweet” or “sugar” pumpkins, and weigh 3-5 pounds. A pie pumpkin has a thick wall of delicious flesh or meat. On the contrary, a “jack-o-lantern” or “carving” pumpkin have thin walls, so you can carve scary or hilarious faces, and their stringy flesh has less flavor.
How do you tell the difference? The size and how your grocer labels it along with the sticker that is actually on the pumpkin from the grower.
On a side note, if you crossed off cooking a pumpkin due to a past experience of eating watery flavorless pumpkin it is generally due to cooking a jack-o-lantern! I’ve been there and done that many years ago! However my experience is totally different today now that I know what pumpkin to purchase!
HOW TO SELECT A PUMPKIN FOR SMOKED PUMPKIN
A “pie”, “sweet” or “sugar” pumpkin is what the label will read, in addition, look for a pumpkin with smooth orange skin that is firm. The freshest pumpkins will feel heavy that means they still have lots of moisture, and probably aren’t too old. For the most part an old pumpkin sounds hollow when thumped on. And of course, avoid pumpkins with cracks or holes of any kind. Once you get home from the market immediately place the pumpkin or pumpkins in a dry cool place not on a hot or icy cold front porch!
A SMOKED PUMPKIN TIP YOU NEED TO KNOW
Cutting a pumpkin before cooking can be tricky and let’s just say there is a risk! A fresh sugar pumpkin will have a thick skin to cut through. My ease and safety method is to place the pumpkin in the microwave on HIGH for 6-7 minutes. This will not fully cook the pumpkin but it will soften the pumpkin making it super easy to cut.
1 (4-pound) pumpkin 6-7 minutes
2 (4-pound) pumpkins 9-10 minutes
From experience, I’d suggest par-cooking 1 pumpkin at a time.
SMOKED PUMPKIN ON A GAS GRILL
Fill a smoker box with smoking chips and place over the hottest part of the grill.
Place pumpkin in the microwave, and cook for 6-7 minutes to soften.
Cut the pumpkin open and scrape the pulp and seeds out. By the way, pulp is that stringy junk! If you have a veggie-scraps bag in the freezer the pulp is packed with nutrition and flavor.
Cut the pumpkin into 6-8 wedges. Brush with canola oil or a preferred oil.
Once the smoker box has blue smoke drifting place the pumpkin face side up on the grill. Smoke at 275-300°F for 30 minutes or until tender.
If smoking pumpkin for a savory dish, sprinkle it with salt or seasoning, and brush with cooking oil at least 2 times during the cooking time. If smoking the pumpkin for a sweet dish, sprinkle it with salt and brush with oil and honey or agave syrup half way through the cook time. Another way to keep a pumpkin moisture during smoking is orage juice or apple juice.
WHAT SMOKING CHIPS ARE BEST FOR SMOKED PUMPKIN
My favorite Western BBQ Smoking Chips:
Apple smoking chips have a subtle sweet mild fruity flavor that is delicious with any squash.
Cherry smoking chips have character! Its tangy mild fruit flavor infuses pumpkin well.
Maple smoking chips has a mild sweet flavor too. I like using maple smoking chips when I am going to finish a dish with maple syrup and citrus. Maple smoking chips are a great choice when smoking Brussels sprouts or green beans. Maple smoking chips add the perfect note of sweet smoke to a Pumpkin Bisque or Soup.
Pecan smoking chips has the strongest scent out of the wood above however it is less distinct than the smoke from hickory or mesquite. Pecan smoking chips will deliver a delicious note of smoke when smoking a Praline Pumpkin Pie!
Check out all of Western BBQ Smoking Chips Here!
Check out my Maple Smoked Green Beans Here!
HOW MUCH PUMPKIN PUREE
Basically, a 3 pound pumpkin will make enough pumpkin puree, about 2 cups, for 1 pie! Smoking a 3 pound pumpkin will provide about the same amount as a 15 oz can of pumpkin.
2 1/2 pound pumpkin pie makes 1 3/4 cups puree
3 1/2 pound pie pumpkin makes 2 1/2 cups puree
6 pound carving pumpkin makes 2 3/4 cups puree
The smoked pumpkin puree can be made a few days ahead of baking the pies. Store smoked pumpkin puree, in a sealed container and use within 1 week.
WHAT TO MAKE WITH SMOKED PUMPKIN
Smoked pumpkin can be blended and made into a bisque, pumpkin pie, or custard. Chunks of smoked pumpkin can be added to pasta, veggie medley, chili, or served cold with a drizzle of spicy honey as an appetizer!
In addition, once you see the ease in smoking pumpkin you might want to add sweet pumpkin butter, pumpkin hash, and of course pumpkin muffins, cookies, and cakes.
SMOKED PUMPKIN SUBSTITUTION
So pumpkin season is over and there is not one to be found in your grocer’s produce section; butternut squash is the answer!
Yes, canned pumpkin can be used. But how do you make canned pumpkin smoky? Take it to your gas grill and smoke it! Simply transfer the pumpkin puree to an open small grill safe pan. For example, a grill safe bread pan is open.
Don’t spread the canned pumpkin out too much for fear it will lose too much moisture. Drizzle 1-tablespoon of oil and 1 tablespoon of water over the pumpkin. Do not cover the pumpkin puree with foil. And as with any smoking, the smoker box is drifting blue smoke before placing the grill pan with pumpkin on to the grill. Smoke for 20-25 minutes.
Smoked Pumpkin on a Gas Grill
You can smoke pumpkin on a gas grill for puree or pumpkin chunks! Western BBQ Smoking Chips will add depth of flavor with a sweet hint of smoke to any of your savory or dessert pumpkin dishes.
Ingredients
- Equipment:
- Gas Grill
- Smoker box or foil packet
- Western Smoking Chips: Apple, Cherry, Maple, or Pecan
- Ingredients
- 1 (3-4 pound) pie, sweet, or sugar pumpkin
- Cooking oil
Instructions
Prepare Smoker Box:
1. Fill a smoker box with about 2 cups Western Smoking Chips, and place over the hottest burner.
Par-cook Pumpkin:
1. Place pumpkin in the microwave, and cook for 6-7 minutes to soften. The pumpkin will still feel hard on the outside but if a knife slides in easily you know it is ready.
Prepare Pumpkin:
1. Snap the stem off. Cut the pumpkin into halves or wedges. Scrape the stringy pulp and seeds out. Reserve the seeds to roast! Check out the recipe notes for the how to!
2. Cut the pumpkin into 6-8 wedges. Brush with canola oil or a preferred oil.
Smoke Pumpkin:
1. Once the smoker box has blue smoke drifting place the pumpkin face side up on the grill. Smoke at 300°F for 30-40 minutes or until fork tender.
2. If smoking pumpkin for a savory dish sprinkle with salt or seasoning, and brush with cooking oil at least 2 times during the cook time. If smoking the pumpkin for a sweet dish, sprinkle with salt and brush with oil and honey or agave syrup half way through the cook time.
Puree or Cut Smoked Pumpkin
1. If smoked pumpkin puree is your goal, as soon as the pumpkin has cooled slightly, remove the skin with a paring knife.
2. Cut pumpkin into chunks and place into the blender. If a savory soup is being made add 1/2 cup broth or water. If a pumpkin puree for pie is being made add the evaporated milk or liquid that is called for in the recipe.
3. Start the blender on low then slowly increase the speed. Turn the motor off before scraping the blender walls with a rubber spatula.
4. If smoked pumpkin chunks are desired wait until the pumpkin has cooled.
Notes
One way to tell if the pumpkin has been par-cooked enough is to check the very bottom of the pumpkin. It will have soften the will look darker than the remainder of the pumpkin.
A grapefruit spoon helps to scrape out the membranes that are attached to the the walls of the pumpkin.
YES! Pumpkin seeds can be roasted. The easiest way for me is to rinse the seeds in a colander and remove any membranes and pat dry, and toss in oil. Roast the pumpkin seeds in the Air-Fryer at 360°F air-fryer for 9 minutes! So healthy!
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