Jamaican Pumpkin Rice Recipe | (2024)

FAQs

What is Jamaican pumpkin called? ›

Jamaican pumpkin (or calabaza) is a pumpkin-like squash with a sweet, bright orange flesh with a similar flavour to butternut squash. Use cut Jamaican pumpkin in the same ways as acorn or butternut squash.

Place pumpkin cubes on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper (add any other spices you'd like!) Roast at 375 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until pumpkin cubes are fork-tender, flipping halfway through.

This Jamaican-style pumpkin rice is a hearty and nutritious one-pot dish prepared with squash, peppers, brown rice, and a rich coconut broth. Vegan and gluten-free, it's perfect for serving with beans, peas, and tofu, in just 430 calories per bowl.

Within an English-language context it specifically refers to the West Indian pumpkin, a winter squash typically grown in the West Indies, tropical America, and the Philippines. Calabaza is the common name for Cucurbita moschata in Cuba, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines (where it is also spelled kalabasa).

Green-skinned calabaza can be found in local Latin and Caribbean markets, but butternut squash is a fine substitute for the pumpkin in this cream-laced soup from home cook Abigail Blake.

Cook It on the Stove

Briefly cooking your canned pumpkin purée on the stove can help improve both the flavor and texture. This method helps reduce excess moisture, which gives the pumpkin a superior texture. It also releases the natural pumpkin flavor and helps reduce the metallic taste from the can.

If the pumpkin is particularly big, cut it into quarters then, using a small, sharp knife, pare off the skin (unless you plan to roast it, in which case the skin can stay on). Then cut into chunks or wedges as required.

For a 2-3 pound sugar pumpkin (also called a pie pumpkin), we like to bake it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (176 Celsius) for 45-50 minutes. You'll know it's done when the skin is tender when pierced with a fork. Let the pumpkin cool slightly before handling.

Highly Nutritious and Particularly Rich in Vitamin A

Besides being packed with vitamins and minerals, pumpkin is also relatively low in calories, as it's 94% water (2). It's also very high in beta-carotene, a carotenoid that your body turns into vitamin A.

Low in calories and high in fibre, it keeps you feeling full longer, curbing unhealthy snacking habits. Packed with vitamins A, C, and E, as well as essential minerals, pumpkin promotes overall health while aiding weight loss, making it an ideal ingredient for our recipe.

How many carbs are in Jamaican rice? ›

Jamaican Rice And Beans (1 cup) contains 54g total carbs, 46g net carbs, 0g fat, 9g protein, and 271 calories.

The four common types are Traditional Orange Pumpkins for carving and decorating, Pie Pumpkins for baking, Giant Pumpkins like the Atlantic Giant for competitions, and decorative varieties like the white Lumina or the small Baby Boo for ornamental use.

Kabocha is a popular vegetable in Japan being used in soups, sushi, and tempura dishes. Kabocha varieties have been introduced into Latino markets where it is used as a substitute for calabaza .

The word “pumpkin” originates from “peopon,” which means “large melon” in Greek. It then evolved to “pompon” in French and “pumpion” in Britain. The Americans later changed it to “pumpkin,” the name we still use today.

Attractive, very flat, pure white pumpkins that are unique and tasty. Very sweet orange flesh is perfect for pies and baking. A wonderful decorating and eating variety that was historically popular in South Africa and was named for the Dutch Boers, who were once the colonial power.