Savory Pumpkin Dip

Submitted by HeatherFeather

"I served this recipe at a Halloween themed party years ago and it was a big hit. I had moved and lost touch with most of the ladies who had attended the party. However, several years later, I received a phone call from one of the women who had been a guest at the party...she said she had been trying to track me down all that time because she wanted a copy of the recipe of the pumpkin dip I had served. I very happily provided her with the recipe and here it is for everyone else. I served this inside a large round of bread, which can be dyed orange to make it look like a pumpkin. Just use any recipe you like for a yeast bread and add orange food coloring to the dough (you can reserve a small dough ball and dye it green to stick on top of the round loaf before baking to represent a stem)...cut off the top of the loaf of bread and scoop out the inside to form a cavity to place your dip inside, then serve the bread "guts" as dippers, along with fresh veggies, crackers, chips, etc..whatever you prefer."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 15mins
• Ingredients: 10
• Yields: 3 cups

ingredients

• 1 lb bread, whole round loaf, unsliced (see the description above for suggestions)
• 3⁄4 cup cooked pumpkin, mashed, unseasoned (canned is fine)
• 12 ounces light cream cheese, at room temperature (Neufchatel)
• 2 tablespoons Mexican seasoning, blend
• 1⁄8 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1⁄8 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (to taste)
• 1⁄3 cup deli ham, thinly sliced, cut into small pieces
• 1⁄3 cup red bell pepper, diced
• 1⁄3 cup green bell pepper, diced
• 1 (2 1/4 ounce) can black olives, sliced, drained

directions

1. Beat together the pumpkin, cream cheese, Mexican seasoning blend,garlic powder, and pumpkin pie spice -- test seasoning and adjust to your liking. (NOTE:if your Mexican seasoning is not salty/peppery enough you may wish to add a bit of salt & pepper to taste as well, cayenne pepper if you want it zesty).
2. Gently stir in diced bell peppers, the ham, and the olives to combine.
3. Cover and chill until ready to serve.
4. Before serving, cut off the top of your round loaf of bread and scoop out the middle, forming a bread bowl and lid (see description above for more complete suggestions) and fill the cavity with the dip.
5. Serve dip with assorted fresh veggies, crackers, chunks of torn bread, etc.

Reviews

[Starrynews]

Excellent! I served this at a football party, and people couldn't get enough of it! I omitted the black olives (personal preference) and made half with the ham and half without (for vegetarian guests). It was great with veggies, crackers, baguette, and tortilla chips. Thanks for a keeper!

 

[Linda B]

I made this to take to a friend's for Thanksgiving and put it in a cute ceramic pumpkin baking dish for a hostess gift. The presentation was very nice. We enjoyed this with assorted veggies. I used Emeril's Southwestern spice in place of the Mexican and added a little salt and pepper. We all really liked this, and I will make again.