The benefits and harms of steamed pumpkin: steam the vegetable and use it correctly

Pumpkin is a rather specific vegetable. This is far from an exotic fruit, however, not everyone knows how and what to use it with. On the one hand, pumpkin can be cooked in a variety of ways. It is baked, fried, boiled in water and steamed, and even eaten raw. On the other hand, pumpkin is not accepted by everyone. This is where a compromise is needed, because a pumpkin dish can be prepared so that it does not have a specific and bright taste, but only complements the dish with a light and subtle pumpkin note.

As already mentioned, pumpkin is great for steaming. This cooking method allows you to preserve the maximum amount of vitamins in the orange fruit, and, moreover, the pumpkin will not become watery, as happens when boiled in water. And here, as always, a multicooker comes to the rescue, or rather its “steaming” program.

How to steam pumpkin:

To steam pumpkin in a slow cooker, we only need two products – pumpkin and water. All other ingredients are optional and, of course, depend on what you plan to do with the steamed pumpkin next.

So, cut off a piece weighing about 400-500 grams from the fruit (a larger piece of pumpkin simply will not fit in the steamer bowl). We clean it from the peel, seeds and fibrous partitions from the inside. Cut into pieces about 2 cm thick.

Pour water into the multicooker bowl. Place the pumpkin pieces in a steamer basket. Close the lid and turn on the “steaming” program.

How long to steam pumpkin, you ask? The steaming time for pumpkin depends on the size of the fruit pieces. For my cutting, 15-20 minutes are enough for the pumpkin to become soft.

Transfer to a plate. Steamed pumpkin can be served sweet, sprinkled with sugar, cinnamon and flavored with butter. Another option is to sprinkle with chopped dill and, again, add a little butter.

If you plan to use steamed pumpkin to make the dough, you should cool it, transfer it to a blender bowl and puree it. Steamed pumpkin easily turns into a soft, smooth orange puree. Pumpkin puree makes an excellent, smooth, sunny dough that doesn't stick to your hands. Buns made from this dough have a pleasant taste and aroma.

Cook with pleasure.

Recipe author: Ivanna Yakushova. Scarlett Indigo multicooker. Power 900 W.

A healthy vitamin dish - main dish or side dish. Try it and rate it. Steamed vegetables are very healthy, because this way all the vitamins are preserved. And besides, the recipe is suitable for those who watch their figure and are on a diet. By the way, you can also cook pumpkin for dessert in a double boiler - in this case, you need to sprinkle it with sugar plus a little cinnamon, and serve with honey.

1. home
2. Best Recipes
3. Recipe categories
4. Pumpkin in a steamer

With minced meat

What you will need:

• pumpkin – 2 kg;
• minced meat - 400 g;
• sour cream – 4 tbsp. spoons;
• garlic – 3 cloves;
• leeks – 3 pcs.;
• salt;
• spices.

Lightly fry the minced meat along with the spices with the multicooker lid open. Chop the onion and also place it in the bowl with the meat. Don't forget to add spices that suit your taste. Wash the pumpkin, peel it and cut into pieces. Place the vegetable with the rest of the ingredients in the slow cooker.

Pour sour cream over the top of the dish and add chopped garlic. Mix thoroughly. Close the lid and valve to release steam. Set the device to the “Extinguishing” mode and the time for 15 minutes. After releasing the steam, open the lid and sprinkle lightly toasted pumpkin seeds on top of the dish.

Ingredients and how to cook

Only registered users can save materials in the Cookbook. Please login or register

According to scientists and nutritionists, pumpkin has a positive effect on the body, the condition and functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, heart and blood vessels. This most accessible vegetable contains a large amount of minerals, vitamins, vital micro- and macroelements, has versatile healing properties, and is used for the treatment and prevention of a wide range of diseases. Steamed pumpkin is especially beneficial for the body. The chemical composition of the product after heat treatment remains virtually unchanged, and the taste is significantly improved.

In this article we will look at the benefits and harms of steamed pumpkin, find out how it works for certain diseases and how to prepare it correctly.

A little history

Pumpkin is an ancient crop. It came to Europe in the 19th century from Central America after potatoes and tobacco. Today, more than 20 varieties of this vegetable are known, differing in taste, color and size.

In many countries, pumpkin is rightfully considered the queen of vegetables. The American Indians were of the opinion that it was a cosmic eye connecting man with the Universe. The British believed that when sowing a pumpkin on Holy Friday, an oak tree would grow. Nowadays, pumpkin is widespread in almost all regions of the country.

Steamed pumpkin

Pumpkin is a valuable food product, the root vegetable of which combines vitamins, micro- and macronutrients, pectin, fiber, proteins, carotene, starch, nicotinic acid, and enzymes. The pulp of the fruit contains vitamins A, B, C, E, copper, cobalt, zinc, manganese, chromium, potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus and other trace elements.

The chemical composition does not change after heat treatment, but the vegetable is better absorbed and breaks down faster, without causing exacerbation of gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, or urolithiasis.

Benefits and harms

When consumed correctly and following the cooking rules, steamed pumpkin has a positive effect on the functions of various organs and systems.

When treating diseases, the following beneficial properties of steamed pumpkin are taken into account:

• helps normalize metabolism, improves intestinal motility;
• eliminates constipation;
• provides a quick and long-lasting feeling of satiety;
• due to the high fiber content, it removes toxins, metal salts, and excess fluid;
• improves calcium absorption, which has a beneficial effect on the strength and elasticity of bone tissue;
• saturates the body with iron, reducing the risk of anemia;
• improves the condition of the walls of blood vessels in the heart and brain, preventing the formation of blood clots;
• has a calming effect on the nervous system, improves night sleep;
• increases endurance and performance;
• strengthens the immune system;
• protects the liver from the aggressive effects of external and internal factors, promotes its restoration;
• alleviates the condition of pregnant women suffering from toxicosis;
• slows down the aging process, ensures the formation of new cells;
• inhibits the growth of cancer cells;
• stabilizes high blood pressure.

Advice . Traditional healers recommend using steamed pumpkin externally on the feet. This compress relieves fatigue and relieves pain.

Before consuming baked fruit pulp, make sure you are not allergic. If you are hypersensitive to the product, itching of the lips and oral mucosa, shortness of breath, swelling of the lips and tongue, rashes, and peeling of the skin occur.

Consumption of the product can aggravate diarrhea, since the vegetable has a pronounced laxative effect. Use pumpkin with caution if you are prone to diabetes. Consuming melons daily in large quantities increases blood sugar, which can lead to stroke, myocardial infarction, kidney failure, and coma.

Calorie content and BZHU

The obvious advantage of pumpkin is its low calorie content. 100 g of baked product contains 20 kcal, raw vegetable 22 kcal. Fats are practically absent and amount to 0.5% of the norm of 100 kcal (0.07 g). But steamed pumpkin is rich in proteins, the percentage of which is 4.5% of the norm of 100 kcal (0.72 g), and carbohydrates - 9% (3.8 g).

Beneficial properties for various diseases

Traditional medicine recommends consuming steamed fruit pulp for the treatment and prevention of diseases such as:

• gout - reduces the concentration of uric acid, restores the regulation of purine metabolism, suppresses inflammation, relieves puffiness and swelling, reduces the severity of pain;
• atherosclerosis - improves the condition of vascular walls, prevents the proliferation of fibrous fibers, hemodynamic disorders, saturates the body with microelements necessary for normal heart function;
• nervous disorders - has a calming, sedative effect on the body, improves night sleep, eliminates irritability, causeless anxiety;
• obesity - improves digestion, speeds up metabolism, creates a feeling of fullness, has a laxative effect;
• renal/liver failure - restores intracellular metabolism, prevents fatty degeneration of cells, the development of liver cirrhosis, stimulates protein synthesis and normalizes energy metabolism of hepatocytes, reduces cholesterol levels in the blood, promotes its excretion along with bile;
• diseases of the digestive tract and pancreas (pancreatitis) - restores and supports the mucous membrane of the stomach, duodenum, improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, activates metabolism, has a regenerating effect;
• urological diseases - removes salt stones in the kidneys, supports the functionality of the prostate, minimizes the risk of erectile dysfunction, early ejaculation, prevents the penetration of infections that cause inflammation of the upper parts of the genitourinary system (pyelonephritis, cystitis).

Benefits of steamed pumpkin for men and women

Pumpkin is especially useful for men of reproductive age , as it participates in the production of testosterone, the main male sex hormone. It plays an important role in the production of sperm, is responsible for mood, sexual health, libido, and affects the development of musculoskeletal tissue.

In boys, testosterone is responsible for the acquisition of male characteristics (timbre of voice, physique, male-type hair). Pumpkin on the men's menu reduces the likelihood of developing or alleviates the course of prostatitis, heart failure, and acts as an effective preventive measure for adenoma.

Steamed pumpkin is no less useful for women. It protects against genitourinary infections, helps in the treatment of gynecological diseases such as cervical erosion, inflammatory lesions, vaginitis, and infertility. During the menopausal period, the pulp of the fetus reduces the severity of symptoms of anemia, calms, and improves mood. Steamed pumpkin pulp is widely used in cosmetology and dermatology due to its antioxidant, tonic, anti-inflammatory and regenerating properties.

The usefulness of pumpkin for pregnant women , including women who are breastfeeding, lies in satisfying the body’s increased need for iron and alleviating toxicosis. Also, the vitamins and minerals in the vegetable provide normal nutrition to the embryo during intrauterine development, which is important for the normal formation of the fetus.

For children

It is difficult to overestimate the benefits of pumpkin for a young, growing organism. Properly grown vegetables without the use of nitrates ensure the physiological processes of growth and development of the child.

Even after heat treatment, the product retains large amounts of calcium and potassium, which are necessary for building bone tissue, teeth formation, coagulation processes, muscle contractions, and transmission of nerve impulses.

Iron deficiency anemia is often observed in newborns. Regular use of the product minimizes the risk of developing pathology, satisfies the body's needs for microelements, and normalizes hemoglobin levels.

The usefulness of steamed pumpkin lies in its beneficial effect on the central nervous system: children become calmer, not capricious, attentive, sleep well, perceive, analyze and reproduce information better.

Steamed pumpkin for weight loss

Steamed pumpkin is included in the diet menu. It contains virtually no fat, but is rich in proteins and carbohydrates, making it easily and quickly digestible, creating a feeling of fullness.

Weight loss occurs due to plant fiber, which activates the gastrointestinal tract, metabolic processes, cleanses the digestive tract, and removes excess fluid.

A one-day fasting day involves eating 1 kg of steamed fruit pulp per day in small portions. This diet is considered strict, so nutritionists advise holding a fasting day no more than once every two weeks.

Advice ! After completing the fasting day, it is necessary to limit the consumption of salty foods to prevent fluid retention in the body.

The long-term pumpkin diet is considered easy, as it provides the opportunity to use a varied menu. Vegetables, fruits, berries, fish and seafood, lean meats, eggs, poultry, cheeses and cottage cheese are allowed in moderation.

Benefits of a healthy diet

The diet is based on healthy foods rich in essential microelements.
During the diet, it is important to maintain a balance of incoming proteins, fats and carbohydrates

Proteins are the basis of nutrition. They do not go into the body’s reserves for a “rainy day”, but are spent on strengthening membranes and membranes and increasing muscle mass. Of the carbohydrates, “complex” ones are strategically important, for example, fiber. Such carbohydrates saturate for a long time and contribute to the active functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Fats should be treated very selectively and carefully, and cholesterol should not be included in the menu. The main thing is no semi-finished products or products with all kinds of additives and substitutes on the menu.

Dietary nutrition involves not only the selection of products, but also the choice of cooking method. Diet chicken breast fried in the deep fryer will not remain healthy, and candied fruit will not help with weight loss. The most valuable method is steaming food.

Advantages of the method:

• important vitamins and minerals are preserved, for example, vitamins A and C disappear from cooked foods because they easily dissolve in water;
• the product does not lose its shape and rich natural color;
• cooking does not require additional use of oil or sugar, which has a beneficial effect on the calorie content of dishes.

In this method of cooking, the prospect of buying a double boiler, an expensive piece of equipment, can be intimidating. But you can cook with steam without a special device. A deep saucepan and a sieve can be found in any kitchen. The pan is filled halfway with water and placed on the fire. A sieve is placed on the pan in which the food will be cooked. The structure is closed at the top with a lid.

Steamed dishes also retain their natural taste and aroma, which is why they are especially loved. Losing weight on steamed foods is not painful. Steam food fits into the framework of any dietary strategy, but is especially often used for carbohydrate and protein weight loss, because fruits, vegetables and meat are best processed this way.

How to properly cook steamed pumpkin

For baking, table varieties of vegetables are used, most often it is ordinary pumpkin. To make the dish tasty and healthy, choose fruits grown without the use of nitrates.

Recipe for steamed pumpkin:

1. Wash the vegetable, cut lengthwise into four equal parts, remove the seeds.
2. Remove the peel, cut into cubes or bars of the same size, approximately 2*2 cm.
3. Place the pumpkin in a deep saucepan, add 100 ml of water or milk, so that it does not cover the vegetable.
4. After boiling, simmer over low heat, covered, until the pumpkin softens. On average it takes 20-25 minutes depending on the type and size of the pieces.
5. During cooking, you can sprinkle with sugar, spices, salt, and herbs. Serve cold or hot.

You can cook steamed pumpkin in the oven. Line a baking sheet or baking dish with parchment paper, lay out the pumpkin cut into cubes, add a little water. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Advice . To improve the taste, pour natural honey over the vegetable before baking and mix with dried fruits.

The easiest cooking option is a slow cooker. Place pumpkin sticks on the bottom of the bowl, fill halfway with water or milk, at the rate of 70 ml of liquid per 500 g of product, add a few slices of butter, set to “Baking” mode for 20-30 minutes. Serve with honey, sour cream, cream, cottage cheese, seasoned with sugar.

Pumpkin pie in a slow cooker

Pumpkin pie in a slow cooker is an excellent baking option that can be served with tea. It is prepared easily, quickly and does not require large expenses. And the unusual taste of the dish will definitely not leave anyone indifferent.

So, to make pumpkin pie in a slow cooker you will need the following products:

• pumpkin – 400 gr;
• sugar – 1.5 multi-cups;
• premium wheat flour – 2 multi-cups;
• eggs – 2 pcs;
• olive oil – 4 tbsp. l;
• baking powder – 10 g;
• butter – 10 g;
• vanillin – ½ tsp.

How to cook pumpkin pie in a slow cooker.

1. Wash the pumpkin, peel it, remove seeds and strings and grind with a blender until pureed.
2. In a separate container, mix sifted flour, sugar, baking powder and vanillin.
3. Add eggs, olive oil and pumpkin puree to dry ingredients. Mix the mixture with a whisk.
4. Grease the multicooker container with butter.
5. Set the appliance to baking mode, place the dough on the bottom of the bowl and cook for 1 hour.

Once cooked, let the dish cool. You can serve this pie with sour cream, whipped with sugar.

Tips and tricks

There are general recommendations on how to choose and consume pumpkin correctly to avoid unwanted consequences:

• You can determine the ripeness of a pumpkin by its tail: it should be dry and dark;
• A high-quality vegetable has thick, smooth and undamaged skin, the seeds are intact, without any foreign odor;
• the most useful are fruits with bright pulp, since they contain the largest amount of carotene;
• pumpkin is well stored, it can be eaten all winter: cut the peeled fruit into small pieces, rinse under water, using a colander to remove excess liquid, dry, put in plastic containers or tight zip-lock bags. Store at a temperature of 18-23 degrees;
• the average daily intake of steamed pumpkin for an adult is 300-400 g, for children 150-250 g. If there is an excess of vegetables in the body, nausea, vomiting, exacerbation of diarrhea, and the development of complications from the gastrointestinal tract are possible;
• Before use, make sure there are no contraindications.

And the most important piece of advice is that pumpkin is not a panacea for all diseases. More often it is considered as a preventive measure or an adjuvant in the treatment of diseases of the digestive, genitourinary, and cardiovascular systems.

It facilitates the course of the pathology, allows you to achieve positive dynamics in a shorter time, and prevent new relapses, but if used incorrectly, it can cause harm to the body. Therefore, the question of the advisability of using steamed pumpkin as a medicinal raw material should be discussed with your doctor.