12 Gourds That Took A Walk On The Savory Side

From piquant pumpkins to spicy squashes.

1. Pumpkin Mashed Potatoes

Jaden Hair / Via steamykitchen.com

Pumpkin puree is added in this mashed potato variation from Jaden Hair at Steamy Kitchen.

2. Pumpkin and Onion Empanadas

Jackie Cleary / Via auburnmeadowfarm.com

Here, Jackie Cleary of Auburn Meadow Farm shares a recipe for savory empanadas with a pumpkin-onion filling.

3. Pumpkin Stuffed with Bread and Cheese

Alan Richardson / Via finecooking.com

In this recipe, Dorie Greenspan stuffs a whole pumpkin and bakes it for an impressive meal.

4. Pumpkin Fritters

PhamFatale / Via phamfatale.com

Indulge in some deep-fried pumpkin fritters from Jacqueline Pham at Pham Fatale.

5. Vegetarian Pumpkin Dumplings

Nasi Lemak Lover / Via nasilemaklover.blogspot.com

These dumplings from Sonia at Nasi Lemak Lover use pumpkin puree in the wrapper dough.

6. Pumpkin Gorgonzola Quiche

Anjanee (Fig and Honey) / Via figandhoney.co

This quiche from Anjanee of Fig and Honey quite likely has fewer ingredients than you'd think.

7. Pumpkin Seed Salsa (Sikil P'ak)

Todd Coleman / Via saveur.com

This Mayan dip from Hugo Ortega for Saveur Magazine would be an especially seasonal alternative to red salsa or guacamole.

8. Pumpkin-Ginger Gyoza

Todd Porter and Diane Cu (White on Rice) / Via blog.cookingchanneltv.com

These gyoza from White on Rice bloggers Diana Cu and Todd Porter have a pumpkin-ginger filling and are served with a soy dipping sauce.

9. Simmered Kabocha Squash

Kanako's Kitchen / Via kanakoskitchen.com

This simple recipe for squash from Kanako's Kitchen is a popular side dish in Japan.

10. Trinidadian Pumpkin

Cooking with Ria / Via cookingwithria.com

This recipe from Cooking with Ria is perfect paired with roti, pita bread, or rice.

11. Pumpkin Gratin

Zubin Shroff / Via marthastewart.com

This gratin from Martha Stewart could be a welcome alternative to candied yams.

12. Beef and Pumpkin Stew (Khoresh Kadoo Halvaie)

Turmeric & Saffron / Via turmericsaffron.blogspot.com

This Persian-inflected take on pumpkin from Turmeric & Saffron puts it into a spicy stew with beef.