Best Pumpkin Rice Recipes

RICE PILAF WITH PUMPKIN, CURRANTS AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Warm olive oil in a heavy-bottomed pot with a lid or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add pumpkin, season with salt, and cook, stirring, until pumpkin begins to brown, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove and set aside, leaving oil in pot.
• Add onion and cook, stirring, until quite brown, about 5 minutes. Add pine nuts and let them brown a bit. Add currants, pepper, allspice and cinnamon.
• Stir in the rice and cook for 2 minutes more, making sure rice is well coated with oil. Add broth or water and 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to a bare simmer. Taste broth and adjust for salt - it should be quite well seasoned. Add reserved pumpkin, cover with a lid, and cook over very low heat until all liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Turn off heat, and let rice steam with lid on for 10 to 15 minutes. Add butter and fluff rice gently with two wooden spoons.

FROM THE PANTRY: CURRIED PUMPKIN AND WILD RICE SOUP

Steps:

• Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Add the rice, and simmer until tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Strain and let cool.
• Meanwhile, combine 2 tablespoons of the raisins and 1 tablespoon of the vinegar in a small bowl. Let sit at room temperature until ready to serve.
• Pulse 1/4 cup of the nuts, the remaining 3 tablespoons vinegar and 2 tablespoons raisins, 2 tablespoons water, tomato paste, curry powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a food processor until a coarse paste forms, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the coarse paste, and cook, stirring frequently, until the oil begins to separate and the paste is brick red, 6 to 8 minutes. Add splashes of water if the paste sticks to the bottom of the pan at all. Add the chicken broth, pumpkin puree and 1 cup water, and whisk until blended. Bring to a simmer, whisking occasionally, and continue simmering until the soup has reduced and is slightly thicker than heavy cream, 30 to 40 minutes. Season with salt, and stir in about 3/4 of the cooked wild rice.
• Divide the hot soup among 4 soup bowls. Top each with some of the remaining rice and 1/4 cup cashews, vinegar-soaked raisins and pepper flakes.

BAKED PUMPKIN RICE PUDDING

Steps:

• Combine milk, pumpkin, rice, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, salt and cloves to a boil in a large saucepan.
• Stir mixture constantly.
• Reduce heat to low; simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Remove pan from heat.
• Beat eggs and vanilla in a large bowl. Slowly stir in hot pumpkin mixture, blending well after each addition. (This lowers the temperature of the mixture, you don't want to add it at once, because you might end up with scrambled eggs. Not very appetizing! Or just whisk some of the hot mixture into the eggs. Then pour all into the hot mixture.)
• Pour into greased 2 quart casserole.
• Bake at 375 F for 45 to 50 minutes or until pudding is set. Cool slightly.
• Serve warm or refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Garnish as desired. Dollop of whipped cream, dash of cinnamon, maybe.
• Put leftovers in the refrigerator.

PUMPKIN RICE PUDDING

Steps:

• Bring the water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat and add the rice. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, for 7 minutes; drain well.
• Using the same saucepan, bring the milk to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir in the rice, vanilla bean, and salt. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring frequently, until the rice is very soft and absorbs most of the milk, 15 to 18 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat, discard the vanilla bean, and stir in the sugar.
• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 2 quart baking dish.
• Pour half of the rice pudding mixture into a large bowl. Add the pumpkin puree, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, and ground nutmeg. Spoon the pumpkin rice pudding into the prepared baking dish. Mix the raisins into the remaining rice pudding mixture, and spoon it over the pumpkin rice pudding.
• Bake, uncovered until firm, about 30 minutes. Serve warm, sprinkled with cinnamon if desired.

PUMPKIN RICE PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375F.
• Bring the water to a boil in an ovenproof 4-quart saucepan. Stir in the rice and cover. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the rice is nearly cooked, about 20 minutes.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, pumpkin, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt.
• While the rice is still hot, add the pumpkin mixture to the saucepan and stir well to combine. Cover and transfer to the oven. Bake until the liquid has reduced by about a third and the mixture is foamy and bubbling, 45 to 50 minutes. Remove from the oven and stir well to combine all the ingredients. Transfer to a large bowl, then cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours or overnight. The pudding will keep for up to 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkling of cinnamon.

BAKED PUMPKIN RICE PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Slice off and reserve the top 1 1/2 inches of the pumpkin. Scoop out the seeds and stringy pulp. Rub the inside of the pumpkin with the butter, then rub with 1 tablespoon brown sugar and a pinch of salt.
• Combine the rice, evaporated milk, molasses, vanilla, cinnamon, the remaining 3 tablespoons brown sugar and a pinch of salt in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
• Put the pumpkin in a baking dish and fill the pumpkin with the rice mixture. Cover with the pumpkin top and add 1 inch of boiling water to the baking dish. Cover loosely with foil and bake until the pumpkin is tender and the rice pudding is thick, about 2 hours. Scrape the pumpkin flesh and stir into the rice pudding; sprinkle with brown sugar.

PUMPKIN AND RICE SOUP

Steps:

• Cook the rice according to package directions; fluff and set aside.
• Meanwhile, pulse the tomato paste, vinegar, raisins, curry powder, red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 cup of the peanuts and 2 tablespoons water in a food processor until a coarse paste forms, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the paste and cook, stirring frequently, until the oil begins to separate and the paste is brick red, 6 to 8 minutes. (Add a tablespoons or two of water if the paste sticks to the bottom of the pan at all.) Add the chicken broth, pumpkin puree and 2 cups water and whisk until blended. Bring to a simmer, whisking occasionally, and continue simmering until the soup has thickened slightly, 30 to 40 minutes. Stir in about three-quarters of the cooked rice and adjust the seasoning with salt.
• Serve the soup topped equally with the remaining rice and 1/4 cup peanuts. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes and the chives.

PUMPKIN WILD RICE SOUP

Steps:

• Sauté the onion in the butter in a large saucepan for 5 minutes; stir in the broth and pumpkin, heat, stirring occasionally, over low heat for 10-15 minutes.
• Stir in the wild rice and pepper; continue to heat for another 10 minutes.
• Stir in the cream and heat through; do not boil.
• Garnish with chives or parsley and serve.

PUMPKIN GINGER RICE PUDDING

Steps:

• Bake pumpkin:
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 450°F.
• Arrange each piece of pumpkin, cut side up, on a sheet of foil. Top each with 1/2 tablespoon butter and 1 teaspoon granulated sugar. Wrap separately in foil and bake, cut sides up, in a shallow baking pan until flesh is tender, about 1 hour.
• Open foil and cool pumpkin slightly, then scoop flesh into a food processor and purée until smooth.
• Reduce oven temperature to 350°F.
• Cook rice while pumpkin bakes:
• Heat rice, salt, 4 cups milk, and remaining 2/3 cup granulated sugar in a 2- to 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring, until very hot. Transfer to a large metal bowl set over a large saucepan of simmering water (or to a double boiler) and cook over low heat, covered, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender and most of milk is absorbed, 1 to 1 1/4 hours. (Add more simmering water to saucepan if necessary.) Remove pan from heat and keep rice warm, covered.
• Make pudding:
• Lightly whisk yolks in a large bowl, then whisk in vanilla, ginger, 1 1/3 cups pumpkin purée (reserve remainder for another use), and remaining cup milk. Gradually stir in warm rice, then pour mixture into a buttered 2-quart flameproof shallow baking dish (not glass). Set baking dish in a roasting pan and bake pudding in a hot water bath , uncovered, in oven until set, 50 minutes to 1 hour.
• If caramelizing pudding, sprinkle evenly with turbinado sugar, then move blowtorch flame evenly back and forth over sugar until sugar is melted and caramelized. Serve warm or at room temperature.

PUMPKIN SOUP WITH WILD RICE AND APPLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place almond slivers on a rimmed baking sheet; toast until golden brown, shaking the pan halfway through, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a board and chop; set aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 10 minutes. Add leek; cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes more. Add pumpkin, turnip, carrots, parsnip, 2 teaspoons salt, and pepper; cook, stirring, until the vegetables are well mixed and coated with butter.
• Add 3 1/2 cups stock and thyme; bring to a boil over medium heat. Return heat to medium-low; gently simmer until vegetables are very tender, about 30 minutes.
• Fill a saucepan with cold water. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and rice. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat. Simmer until rice is tender, about 45 minutes, or according to package instructions. Drain; set aside.
• Remove soup from heat; let cool slightly. Use an immersion blender or puree in a food processor or blender (fill blender only halfway -- hot liquids expand). Working in batches, add stock to thin if necessary. Reheat soup over medium-low heat.
• Heat remaining tablespoon butter in a saute pan over medium heat. Add apple; cook until brown and soft, about 3 minutes. Add scallions, remaining salt, and cayenne; cook until scallions soften, about 1 minute. Add rice and reserved nuts; cook until heated through, 1 to 2 minutes more.
• Ladle soup into pumpkin bowls, and garnish with wild-rice mixture. Serve.

BROWN RICE PUMPKIN PUDDING

Steps:

• Place the rice in a mesh strainer and place under running water, stirring gently to rinse the rice thoroughly.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine milk, sugar, and pumpkin pie spice DO NOT BOIL. Once milk has heated and sugar is dissolved, add the rice and stir. Reduce to medium-low and cover. Allow to cook for about an hour, checking/stirring occasionally to see if more milk is needed and how tender the rice is.
• When rice is tender, remove from heat and stir in the pumpkin, cranberries, and vanilla. Serve warm in individual dessert dishes each topped with ice cream, a sprinkle of finely chopped pecans, and a light dusting of cinnamon.

RICE KRISPIE PUMPKIN TREATS

Steps:

• Melt margarine in large microwave safe bowl. Add marshmallows, and heat again in microwave until soft and fluffy. Put in a few drops of food coloring to achieve desired color. Stir in cereal and mix well. Using lightly greased hands, shape into small handful sized balls. Place onto pan lined with parchment paper and put candy piece in the top for a stem. Pumpkins aren't generally perfectly round, so it makes this a very kid friendly recipe.

TURKEY WILD RICE PUMPKIN SOUP

Steps:

• Cook and stir margarine, onions and celery in Dutch oven over medium heat until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 5 minutes.
• Add broth and pumpkin.
• Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes.
• Stir in turkey, rice, half and half, salt and cinnamon.
• Heat to serving temperature. DO NOT BOIL.

BAKED PUMPKIN WITH WILD RICE STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375° F. With a sharp knife, cut a 4- to 6-inch-wide lid off the top of each pumpkin. Use a large spoon to scoop out the seeds and stringy fibers, (use seeds for roasted pumpkin seeds, if desired, or discard). Set a square of foil, over the opening cut on top of th pumpkin and set the lid on top of the foil (th foil is to keep the lid from falling back into the pumpkins). Place prepared pumpkins in a baking pan filled with about 1/2 inch of water and bake until the insides are tender, about 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the size of your pumpkins. Remove from the oven and keep warm. While the pumkins are baking prepare the rice. In a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, zucchini, and garlic, and sauté, until the vegetables are tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in the water, brown wild rice, parsley, salt, pepper, and turmeric, and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook over low heat until all of the liquid is absorbed, about 45 minutes. Fluff with a fork, and stir in the peas, carrots and corn. If desired, fold in the Parmesan or soy cheese. Set aside until the pumpkins are done. When the pumpkins are finished baking, discard the foil; spoon the rice mixture into the pumpkins and cover with the lids and serve. When serving, be sure to serve some of the inside of the pumpkin along with the rice stuffing.

PUMPKIN RICE PUDDING

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the first seven ingredients. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, over medium heat., Gradually whisk a small amount of hot mixture into eggs; return all to pan, whisking constantly. Bring to a gentle boil. Remove from heat. Stir in rice and vanilla., Pour into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 25-30 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve warm with ice cream if desired. Refrigerate leftovers.

PUMPKIN-CURRY CHICKEN OVER CASHEW RICE

Steps:

• Cook rice according to package directions., Meanwhile, sprinkle chicken with 1 teaspoon curry powder and pepper. In a large skillet, saute chicken in oil for 5-6 minutes or until no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer., Stir in the pumpkin, broth, raisins, apple butter, five-spice powder and remaining curry powder. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5-7 minutes to allow flavors to blend., Stir cashews into cooked rice and serve with chicken mixture. Sprinkle with parsley.

BAKED PUMPKIN RICE CUSTARD

Steps:

• 1. Pre-heat oven to 325 and find 2 pans, one for the custard and a larger one it can fit in that will have water added to it so it will cook as a custard and not overheat and cook the bottom unevenly more than the top. This is known as a "bain marie" method of cooking. For this recipe, you want a pan for the custard that is at least 3.5" high for the custard. I use a stoneware rectangular pan that is 7.5x11.5x3.5, but you can use an oval casserole pan or a larger 10x10 or 11x11 square pan as long as 3.5" deep. Basically you want something that will hold 2.5 quarts. ( You don't want to use a standard`13x9 lasagna pan for the custard, it is too big and will not produce a deep enough custard. I do use this size when I double this recipe though!!) Finally, the pan with the water doesn't have to be 3.5" deep, just about 2" deep. It's all about physics. Trust me. Moving on...
• 2. Put your dry rice in a sieve (AKA a fine woven sifter) and rinse for a minute or two under cold water using your hands to move it around to help remove the fine dust. You want the water that is running below it to be mostly clear. This keeps your rice from sticking together when cooking. Toss your drained rice into a rice cooker or like me, a heavy-bottomed sauce pan. Add to the rice: the water, salt and butter. Set the burner heat on high and bring it so it just bubbles, then cover and turn heat down to medium-low. Don't lift that cover for 15 minutes. After that, check it and scrape bottom of pan to make sure all is well. Re-cover and let finish for another 3 minutes then remove from that burner and let rest for 10 minutes covered. I have a rice cooker but honestly don't have room on my counters or in my closets to keep it around just to make a cup or two.
• 3. While rice is cooking, get a large bowl and toss in 4 eggs and with a fork (or a hand-whisk) and mix the eggs so that they are smooth before adding the milk products. Add the 1/2&1/2 and the milk and mix together well with the eggs. Add the 2/3's can of pumpkin and the sugar. You want this sugar to dissolve as much as possible before you assemble the custard. White Domino Granulated Cane Sugar dissolves fast, where as some of the organic pure unbleached cane sugar can dissolve more slowly or not enough even after baking 1.5 hours. While my family doesnt notice, the chef does. Use what you prefer. I use both in my custards. For THIS recipe, I used Domino white granulated sugar because I was going for something more delicate in texture. Moving on.....
• 4. Now add all the spices, vanilla, and salt to the mixture above. Keep your cinnamon hanging around because you will need that at very end to sprinkle on top before baking. Cover your bowl with some saran wrap and let sit.
• 5. After your rice has finished sitting for 10 minutes, remove it immediately and layer it loosely and evenly into the bottom of your custard pan.
• 6. Sprinkle top of rice with 1/4 cup of yellow raisins. If your family loves raisins, you can add a couple extra tablespoons more. Keep in mind, they will plump while cooking and are much larger entities in the end product. If you don't like raisins, don't worry, just forget them! They are optional.
• 7. Uncover your bowl of your milk mixture and stir it well to make sure all the ingredients are dispersed. Then immediately and slowly pour it over the rice/raisin mixture.
• 8. Carefully put the rise custard into a larger pan and fill with water so that half of the depth of the outside of the custard pan is covered with water. Now, sprinkle a few pinches worth of cinnamon on top of the custard. Take note that these two pans are now kind of heavy, so you want to be extra careful as you put it in oven.
• 9. Pull out the bottom rack in your preheated oven. Place custard on it and slowly return rack to oven. Don't worry if some spills into the second pan. Goal: don't burn yourself, that's more important. Set timer for 1 hour and 30 min and turn the oven light on so you can watch. I have a convection setting on my oven and for those of you that do, go ahead and turn on the convection setting. It doesn't really speed up the time (in this scenario) but it does disperse the heat evenly. After the timer goes off, check your custard by jiggling the pan a bit. If it is really jiggly, cook for another 15- 20 min. If it is slightly jiggly, cook for another 10 min. If at any point you think that your custard looks too dark on top, cover with foil loosely or even better, just put a small cookie sheet on top of the custard leaving a few spaces on the corners for steam to continue to release. I usually don't have to do anything, but once in a blue moon the top looks browner than i like, so I pass on that tip. In the end, you can just press your finger on top and if it feels firmish like a med-well steak, it's done. The other alternative is to stick a sharp knife in the middle of the custard and if it comes out clean, it's done. Take note: a slightly jiggly custard is OK after cooling in fridge for 4 hours, but my family can't wait that long and they like it warm. So... I make sure it is firm right when it comes out of the oven. Set your custard on a cooling rack on a counter or table - not on the hot oven you just cooked it in. I actually help it cool by taking a toothpick and poke gently all over the top of the custard about 10 pokes. This helps the steam from inside release. Let cool for 1/2 hour to and hour and serve with whipped cream. I prefer letting this cool in fridge completely, especially since this is a pumpkin custard. Whatever works best for you and your family. ENJOY this special Pumpkin version of baked rice custard.
• 10. Final tips: 1. Please don't use short grain rice, it is designed for sticking together. It makes great Japanese california rolls, but not great for custard. 2. You can buy Jasmine rice frozen that cooks in microwave for 3 minutes. Don't use this either. When it is in the custard it melds into a more solid brick of rice that settles at the bottom versus dispersed individual rice grains. I've tried it a couple times now and it just doesn't work. Sorry! 3. If you want to buy your rice with your next Chinese take-out order, it does work but use it that night, not the next day after its been sitting in the fridge drying out. You need the rice to be moist and not in clumps. When you are cooking at 325 degrees, you would think that would be enough to get it moist enough again, but NOPE, it will not be tender enough for the custard.

PUMPKIN RICE LAKSA SOUP

Steps:

• Reserve cilantro leaves for garnish. Place cilantro stems in a food processor and add chile peppers, lime zest, lemongrass, ginger, garlic, five-spice powder, and cumin. Blend to a pulp; remove and discard any stringy bits and transfer mixture to a high-sided skillet. Add olive oil and white onion. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until fragrant, about 10 minutes.
• Add pumpkin and broth to the skillet. Stir around, scraping up any bits stuck to the bottom of the skillet. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, until pumpkin is soft, about 15 minutes. Add rice and stir well so that pumpkin gets mashed up a bit. Cover and simmer until rice is tender, 15 to 20 minutes more. Add coconut milk and season with salt and pepper. Stir in lime juice to taste. Garnish with reserved cilantro leaves, green chile pepper, and grated coconut.

GREEN RICE WITH TOASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS

Steps:

• In 8-inch skillet, heat pumpkin seeds and 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until seeds are lightly toasted. (Watch carefully-they can burn quickly.) Use slotted spoon to remove pumpkin seeds from pan and cool on paper towel-lined plate.
• In food processor or blender, puree cilantro, parsley, bell pepper, onion, garlic, chile, salt, cumin and water until smooth; set aside.
• In 3-quart saucepan, heat 3 tablespoons oil over medium heat until hot. Add rice and cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly translucent around edges. Add pureed liquid and heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 20 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed. Fluff with fork and stir in pumpkin seeds. Serve hot.

BRULEED BANANA AND PUMPKIN RICE PUDDING

Steps:

• Combine the rice and 1 1/2 cups water in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high until most of the water is absorbed and the rice is mostly cooked through but still has a bite to it, about 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the milk, pumpkin puree, 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, raisins, vanilla, cinnamon stick and salt. Let the mixture reach a steady simmer and maintain that steady simmer through completion of the recipe.
• When the rice finishes cooking in the microwave, add it and any remaining liquid to the simmering milk mixture. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the rice is completely tender and the pudding thickens, 12 to 14 minutes. Slow, large bubbles will rise to the top towards the end of cooking.
• Remove the saucepan from the heat, discard the cinnamon stick and divide the pudding between six 6-ounce broiler-proof ramekins. Refrigerate until completely cool, about 30 minutes. The pudding will continue to thicken as it cools.
• When ready to serve, arrange a rack in the top position of the oven and heat the broiler on high (see Cook's Note).
• Place a single layer of sliced bananas on top of each pudding. Evenly sprinkle 1 tablespoon of sugar over the top of each pudding. Broil until the sugar forms a hard, caramel layer, about 30 seconds, checking every 10 seconds. Serve.