Pumpkin recipes refer to dishes that include pumpkins as a main ingredient or flavor component. Pumpkins are a type of squash that come in various shapes, sizes and colors, most commonly associated with orange hue. They have a sweet, slightly nutty taste and can be used in both savory and sweet dishes. Some popular pumpkin recipes include pumpkin pie, roasted pumpkin soup, pumpkin risotto, pumpkin enchiladas, and pumpkin chili among others. These recipes often call for cooked or mashed pumpkin puree which can be made by boiling, baking or steaming whole pumpkins until they are soft enough to scoop out the flesh.