It’s pumpkin season — and while everyone’s busy carving spooky faces or sipping pumpkin spice lattes, Egypt has been turning pumpkin into comfort food long before it became a seasonal trend. Whether baked, stuffed, or sweetened with sugar and milk, pumpkin finds its way into cozy autumn dishes, where it turns up in casseroles, soups, and even puddings.
So if you’ve got a pumpkin sitting in your kitchen and you’re wondering what to do with it, we’ve got you covered. Here are four delicious ways to enjoy pumpkin the Egyptian way.
Sweet Pumpkin with Béchamel
If you grew up in Egypt, you probably remember this one showing up on the dessert table — a golden, creamy casserole layered with soft pumpkin, raisins, and nuts, then topped with silky béchamel. Think of it as Egypt’s answer to pumpkin pie.
The pumpkin is first simmered with sugar until tender, then mashed and baked under a sweet béchamel sauce made with butter, milk, and flour. Once it comes out of the oven, it’s bubbling and caramelized on top — comfort food at its finest.
Creamy Pumpkin Soup
A bowl of this soup feels like a warm hug. It’s thick, velvety, and bursting with the cozy flavors of fall — but with a Middle Eastern twist. The base is pumpkin cooked down with onion, celery, garlic, and tomatoes, then blended until smooth.
A dollop of labneh cream (or just cream if that’s what you have) makes it extra rich, while nutmeg and coriander bring out that distinctive aroma. Top it off with a sprinkle of parsley and some toasted bread on the side, and you’ve got the ultimate fall comfort dish.
Stuffed Pumpkin
Move over, stuffed peppers — the pumpkin is taking center stage. This showstopper dish starts with a whole pumpkin that’s hollowed out, then filled with a savory mix of minced meat, rice, herbs, and tomato sauce. Once baked, the pumpkin softens and soaks up all those flavors inside, creating a hearty meal that looks just as impressive as it tastes. It’s the kind of dish that’ll make everyone at the table stop and stare before digging in.
Pumpkin Pudding (Mehalabeya)
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, this one’s a must-try. Imagine a silky, golden pudding made from pumpkin, milk, coconut, and a hint of vanilla — smooth, fragrant, and lightly browned under the grill.
It’s the Middle Eastern take on pumpkin pudding, somewhere between mehalabeya and custard, and it’s perfect served cold after a long day. A drizzle of ghee on top adds that signature richness you’ll find in Egyptian desserts.
From sweet casseroles to savory stuffings, pumpkin proves it’s much more than a decoration — it’s a fall essential that’s been part of Middle Eastern kitchens for generations. So this Halloween, skip the carving knife and grab a spoon instead.
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