Lesya This Pumpkin Porridge recipe is very well-known in Ukraine and is just another version of the pumpkin porridge with millet – an authentic Ukrainian dish. Harbuzova kasha was made in old-fashioned baking ovens, where the heat was wrapping the casserole dish around from all sides, where the cooking time was longer, and with all these factors in place, the food inside turned out to taste more delicious.
Nowadays we cook this simple, nourishing, and healthy meal just in a pot on the stove. The pumpkin porridge will be especially good for cold winter – it will warm your body and heart and will help make it through those rainy or snowy days. We don’t add sugar to this dish as the natural gentle sweetness of pumpkin is more than sufficient.
Pumpkin and rice also make a good food combination – when cooked together they turn into a mouthwatering meal. We added to our harbuzova kasha only butter – just like our moms used to do it – and garnished with pumpkin seeds. Improvise with our recipe by drizzling the pumpkin porridge with maple syrup, honey, nuts, or dried apricots and enjoy this delectable meal!
Pumpkin Porridge
Equipment
- Pot
- food processor
- Chef's knife
Ingredients
- medium-sized pumpkin or butternut squash peeled or 2kg
- 2 cups rice
- 1 liter fresh raw milk
- salt to taste
- sugar optional
- pumpkin seeds slightly roasted
- 50 g unsalted butter
Instructions
Method of Preparation
- Soak rice overnight and rinse it in the morning. In a large pot, add 4 cups of water and rice, bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook for 20 minutes. Add ½ teaspoon of salt when it is almost ready and mix well. Once the rice is ready, drain it and put aside.
- Cut the pumpkin into several slices and peel them.
- Chop or grate pumpkin slices. You can also chop them in a food processor, but not too finely.
- Place grated pumpkin in a pot, pour over milk, and put the mixture to a boil. Once the milk starts to boil, reduce heat to medium, and cover the pot with a lid.
- Cook pumpkin with milk for about 20 minutes.
- Once the pumpkin is tender, add cooked rice, mix well, and let the porridge simmer on low heat under the lid for 5 minutes. Add salt to taste.
- Serve warm with butter.
How to serve Pumpkin Porridge?
You can serve the pumpkin porridge just with butter and it will taste delicious. If you want to be more creative, add slightly roasted pumpkin seeds, nuts, dried apricots, or raisins. Add a pinch of cinnamon for the Christmassy taste to get into the holiday spirit!
What are the health benefits of pumpkin?
The healthy benefits of pumpkin are numerous, that is why it is so popular in healthy diets. Pumpkins are low in calories and promote weight loss, they are loaded with vitamins, and also have cleansing properties. The pumpkin porridge can be good for cleansing your liver and for smoothening your stomach.
What are the best food combinations for pumpkins?
Pumpkins are quite universal and make good combinations with rice, millet, apples, berries, vegetables, with spices, such as cinnamon and nutmeg, and dairy products.
Conclusion
Pumpkin Porridge (Harbuzova Kasha) is a delicious and healthy meal, which is good for adults and kids. It can make any meal of the day, depending on your diet preferences and it can be a great addition to your vegetarian menu. Please leave your comment if you like this recipe or if you have any questions. Feel free to share it with your friends!
