Queso Fundido means Melted Cheese in Spanish. This season when pumpkins are a plenty and there’s a definite chill in the air, try this Spicy Pumpkin Queso Fundido Bowl!

There’s something beautiful and magical about pumpkins, because as much as it represents Cinderella’s carriage from the first fairytale I probably read, it also becomes the crux of Halloween celebrations with Jack-o’-lanterns and more! So you cannot deny that in the hollow of a pumpkin there surely resides just a little bit of magic!

I grew up in a country where Halloween does not exist, but to me it was as real as any other celebration, thanks to the multitude of books and cartoons I kept company with! This time of the year, Scooby doo would always feature a villain with a Jack-o’-lantern head. Now, all grown-up and living in the U.S., I finally get to celebrate Halloween the way it was meant to – with horror and an overload of pumpkin deliciousness. But, having no prior experience carving out a pumpkin, I decided to start slow and carve out a bowl first.

First time at Pumpkin carving

It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be! I found that a sharp spoon was more effective than a fork (which is what most tutorials seem to suggest) to scoop out both the stringy gunk and the flesh. And to cut the top open, use a thin, small serrated knife instead of a large one. Sit the pumpkin and slide the knife at a 45° angle and keep sawing your way around in a straight line, and in a couple of turns you should be able to lift it off with ease.

The flesh you scooped out from the pumpkin, blend smooth with a little vegetable stock. Cook the puree with the rest of the ingredients till it forms a smooth, creamy mixture.

Pour the pumpkin+ cheese mixture into the scooped up pumpkin bowl and top with more cheese. This cheese on top will crust and crisp as it bakes. If you don’t want that, use all the cheese in the pumpkin mixture. Make sure you place a bowl of water in the oven while the pumpkin bakes.

Serve hot with tortilla chips, vegetables, bread and even fruit! Whatever catches your queso fancy! And watch your guests go gaga as you bring this gorgeous pumpkin bowl to the table!

Dunk away and enjoy this gorgeously golden and warm dip that’s just perfectly comforting for the cold weather outside!

When you make these (which I really think you SHOULD!), be sure to SHARE YOUR PHOTOS with me through Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. I’d love to see what you cook from here and will share it with pride on my social media feeds.