Appreciation post: Canned pumpkin makes terrible chili

I tried swapping canned pumpkin for tomato sauce in my chili last week to save money, figuring the texture would be close enough. It came out sweet and grainy, completely killing the savory flavor I was going for. Has anyone else found a decent way to use leftover canned pumpkin that isn't pie or muffins?

3 comments

3 Comments

drewr1520d ago

Ngl I gotta disagree here. Canned pumpkin in chili can actually work if you treat it like a thickener instead of a swap for tomato sauce. I add a small can to my beef chili with extra cumin and chipotle powder and it gives it a nice earthy depth without being sweet.

kaigibson19d ago

Cocoa powder is sweet, not bitter.

logan_mitchell20d ago

Right, @drewr15 is onto something. I've done the same thing with a can of pumpkin in my chili for years, but you gotta balance it out. I add a bit of cocoa powder and a teaspoon of strong coffee along with the cumin to cut any sweetness. Keeps it savory and gives it that deep, almost smoky flavor.