Pumpkin Preservation: Enjoy Freshness All Year Round with Smart Storage
Economical Household Tip: Savor Pumpkin All Year Long with These Storage Secrets
Recently, during a volunteer activity in Tongyeong, I received a large, beautiful pumpkin. We enjoyed it immensely, but found we couldn’t finish it all at once. So, I’m excited to share with you today a method to portion and preserve this precious pumpkin so you can enjoy it throughout the year. It’s a simple way to avoid waste and make the most of this delicious vegetable!
Pumpkin Portioning & Basic Preparation Ingredients
- 2 large pumpkins
- 2 Tbsp coarse salt
Stir-fried Pumpkin (Side Dish) Ingredients
- 300g prepared pumpkin
- 2 Tbsp anchovy sauce (or fish sauce)
- 2 Tbsp dried shiitake mushroom powder
- 5 Tbsp broth (or water)
- 3 Korean chili peppers (cheongyang chili)
- A little cooking oil (for stir-frying)
- Minced garlic (or thinly sliced garlic)
- A little sesame oil
- A little toasted sesame seeds
- 300g prepared pumpkin
- 2 Tbsp anchovy sauce (or fish sauce)
- 2 Tbsp dried shiitake mushroom powder
- 5 Tbsp broth (or water)
- 3 Korean chili peppers (cheongyang chili)
- A little cooking oil (for stir-frying)
- Minced garlic (or thinly sliced garlic)
- A little sesame oil
- A little toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, wash the pumpkin thoroughly. Then, cut it into manageable pieces and scoop out the seeds and stringy insides. Removing the seeds and pulp helps prevent the pumpkin from becoming mushy during storage.
Step 2
If the pumpkin skin is thin, you can leave it on. However, if you prefer a softer texture or if the skin is particularly thick, gently peel it with a knife, just removing the tough outer layer. Avoid peeling too much, as this can lead to nutrient loss.
Step 3
Slice the prepared pumpkin into strips, about 0.5 cm thick. In a bowl, add 1 tablespoon of coarse salt to the sliced pumpkin and mix well. Let it sit for about 10-15 minutes to draw out moisture. Salting makes the pumpkin firmer and less likely to break apart when cooked.
Step 4
Rinse the salted pumpkin lightly under running water to remove excess salt, and then squeeze out as much moisture as possible. This pumpkin can be stir-fried immediately as a side dish, or you can pre-cook it, let it cool, portion it, and freeze for easy access later. Portion into zipper bags for single servings.
Step 5
For soups, slice the pumpkin into thin, flat pieces (nabak-style). Portion about 300g to 350g into zipper bags for one soup serving. This way, you can quickly add fresh pumpkin to your soup whenever you desire a delicious, refreshing broth.
Step 6
For dishes like fried rice, pancakes, or stews, dice the pumpkin into small pieces. These are perfect for adding to children’s fried rice or enhancing the flavor of stews. Portion these small diced pieces into zipper bags and store them in the freezer.
Step 7
Now, let’s demonstrate how to make a simple stir-fried pumpkin side dish using the portions prepared for this purpose. Heat a little cooking oil in a pan, add minced garlic (or sliced garlic), and sauté until fragrant. Once the garlic aroma is released, add the prepared pumpkin strips and stir-fry together.
Step 8
When the pumpkin begins to turn slightly translucent, add 5 Tbsp of broth (or water), 2 Tbsp of dried shiitake mushroom powder, and 2 Tbsp of anchovy sauce for seasoning. Taste and add more anchovy sauce if needed. Stir well while cooking. If you enjoy a bit of spice, add finely chopped Korean chili peppers. Red chili peppers can also be used for a prettier color.
Step 9
Once the pumpkin is tender, just before turning off the heat, drizzle in a little sesame oil and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds for a finishing touch. The sesame oil and seeds add a wonderful nutty aroma.
Step 10
This carefully stir-fried pumpkin is a delicious side dish on its own. Your tasty pumpkin stir-fry is ready!
Step 11
As you can see, by portioning the pumpkin for different uses and storing it in zipper bags in the freezer, you can enjoy fresh and delicious pumpkin dishes anytime, regardless of the season. If you have an abundance of pumpkin and don’t know what to do with it, why not try this smart storage method I’ve shared today? It will surely fill your freezer and bring you joy! Don’t forget to subscribe and like! ^^
