Pumpkin

Pumpkins have a long-running, bristled stems, large, deeply-lobed leaves often containing white "blotches" and yellow or orange flowers separated into male and female types in the same plant.

The pumpkin fruit is variable in shape and colour but is often white, cream or green, containing 70% flesh and several large white seeds.

The leaves, fruit and seeds are edible, with the fruit usually boiled or steamed and the seeds roasted. The younger leaves are collected, petioles and stem removed, washed, chopped and boiled.

Pumpkin as food is usually boiled eaten hot or cold as breakfast or when going to the farm it can be carried and taken with porridge.Click here to learn more on pumpkin preparation

Once pumpkins are harvested they can stay for a long time thus used as a staple food when others are running out, also the more it stays the sweeter it becomes.

Nutritive Values

The fruit may rot when in contact with moist soil so often cut grass or leaves are placed beneath the fruit.

Pumpkin fruit contains 1% protein and 8% carbohydrates, and the dried seeds contains 23% protein, 21% carbohydrates and up to 50% oil.

Nutritive benefits of pumpkin

• Pumpkin seeds was and is still used as a deworming agent.


• Its believed to loosen the stool (reduce constipation)


• It eases men failure to passing urine (Prostrate cancer). The seeds are dried and the inner part is crushed and used for this purpose


• Used as baby food.It is boiled together with potatoes, green banana, pumpkin leaves and any other green vegetable e.g. spinach, amaranth (terere). Its already sweet hence no need for adding salt.

• As a starter - Pumpkin is boiled till tender, mashed then in a different pan fry onions. Add tomatoes, dhania then add your mashed pumpkin. Add water to your preferred thickness.Salt to taste


• Chapati - Boil the pumpkin and mash.Add the wheat flour a little salt and knead.Cook chapati as usual. The chapatis are soft with a good color, actually mouth watering


• Mandazi - Boil your pumpkin and mash. Add your flour, sugar, baking powder, grated orange peel, 1 tablespoon full of butter or margarine. Add water or milk till you make a smooth dough. Cut into 4 pieces spread them making smaller pieces with your preferred shapes. Deep fry them.


• Mashing Githeri - Githeri is a mixture of beans and maize cooked together till ready (this can be green or dry maize).Peel the pumpkin and potatoes and add to the ready githeri. Add salt to taste, mash and serve with your favorite stew.


• Frying Githeri - Cut your pumpkin, potatoes and carrots into small pieces.Fry them. Add your githeri add water to make a little soup.Its a good meal for those who love tasty food.