"Boil it, don't spoil it": UKHarvest shares how to make the most of discarded pumpkins

The charity's "Pass the Pumpkin" challenge is raising awareness of the different ways you can use your pumpkin

UKHarvest have shared the ways you can make the most of discarded pumpkins to raise awareness of how to stop food waste this Halloween. 

The charity has pioneered their own "Pass the Pumpkin" challenge, where people are encouraged to post a video of themselves passing the seasonal veg to their friends while shouting different ways you can cook with it. The aim of the challenge is to show others how versatile pumpkins can be, apart from just being a vessel to carve out scary faces. 

Sarah Morison, who works at the charity, told V2 Radio: "As a food, I think pumpkins and other squashes are overlooked. We see them and think they're tough, be hard to peel or they might be hard to work with."

"They’re amazing, you literally need to dice the flesh into chunks, cut the outer skin off the pumpkin and roast the pieces in the oven. Some squashes like lovely butternut squash, you can ditch the peeler and roast them with their skins on. Totally delicious!"

An advocate for pumpkins, Sarah advises that when carving the vegetable, "scrape out as much of the flesh and as much as the inside as you can and then try and separate out the seeds, because they're just great". She adds that the seeds can then be roasted or toasted, with the "stringy, fibrous flesh" being perfect for an "amazing pumpkin soup" or even pumpkin hummus. 

"We actually trialled our pumpkin soup the other day in the training kitchen at UK harvest and I must say it is delicious.

“I still I love a good soup. It's the easiest thing to do and when you've got all that slightly squishy, scooped out flesh. It makes sense to just whack it into a nice big warming soup really. It's such a warming lovely meal to go for and it's not difficult."

As well as praising pumpkins for their flavour, Sarah shares the health benefits that including them in your weekly meals has. 

"it’s packed full of vitamins, and at this time of year it's really good for boosting your immune system - quite frankly we will need that going into winter."

UKHarvest is "really keen for anyone to gather their friends together" and take part in their pumpkin pass. With an instructional video shared on their Instagram urging people to get involved, the charity is also looking for people to text PUMPKIN to 70580 to donate £5  to help fund their vans, which collect surplus food from across the supply chain to feed those in need. 

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Sarah adds that when uploading your contribution to the challenge, it's vital to add #PassthePumpkin or tag @UKHarvest. 

"That way we can pick it up and create this lovely long continual Pumpkin Pass to encourage everyone not to waste it this year,” she explains. 

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