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We decided to put four staple appetizers to the test to see will they taste good in pumpkin-spice form. Cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger are a tasty combination that transcend just desserts. The flavors enhance meat sauces, ramen dishes, pot stickers, and even hot sauces. I want to discover what these four spices can really do by putting them on non-conventional pumpkin spice foods. Since the world loves pumpkin spice as much as I do, this should be interesting.

The parameters for the recipe tests are simple. Do they benefit from pumpkin spice? Do they still taste better than the original recipe? Would I make it again? We duplicated this process in a dessert version you read all about here. Desserts are too easy though, let’s put these four savory options to the test. Let’s meet our contenders.

The Appetizers:

Four appetizers that I’ve loved since childhood, but also think are plain enough to set a decent baseline. We will see if a homemade salsa can pumpkin spice better than a homemade queso, then we will see if a homemade cocktail meatballs pumpkin spice better than oven-roasted chicken wings. Any predictions yet?

Pumpkin Salsa:
Salsa I knew would make an excellent contender for the pumpkin spice version simply because of spice and vegetable pairings. Squash like pumpkin breaks down as it’s cooked to a creamy consistency that adds body to sauces, pestos, and even salsas. I’ve even heard that pumpkin guacamole is even a hit. The roasted salsa gets built in the same method as traditional salsa which is key to making an alternate version to any recipe. Don’t reinvent the wheel, just the substitute components. Cumin is a primary spice in most salsa, which pairs well with the cinnamon in pumpkin spice. Will it taste good on a tortilla chip?

Check out the full recipe for this delicious salsa here:
Pumpkin Salsa

Pumpkin Queso:
Now queso is a strong identifiable flavor that at first seems a little scary mixed with pumpkin spice. These four spices pair beautifully with the crumbled cooked chorizo incorporated. Fatty meats like bacon, pork sausage, or even lamb makes for a reputable spice haven. Suddenly this queso goes from zero to a hundred when you add meat. This queso is thickened using american cheese for an extra gooey texture, then it’s salted with some canned jalapeno brine. Don’t skimp on the toppings and we will soon find out… Can it handle the spice?

Check out the fully cheesy recipe here:
Pumpkin Queso

Pumpkin Pie Glazed Meatballs:
As we’ve discussed earlier, meat and spice are a matchmade in heaven. The spicier the better off the final result will be. The fat from the meat dilutes the spice flavor to let the beef flavor bloom, along with some diced onion to retain moisture, these meatballs are juicy and tender as they cook in just 12 minutes under broil. The meatballs are tossed in a pumpkin glaze created from apricot preserves, pineapple juice, and pumpkin puree. The puree helps to thicken the sauce. These meatballs are ready for the crockpot, but first, can they handle the spice?

Check out the full recipe here:
Pumpkin Pie Glazed Meatballs

Pumpkin Spiced Chicken Wings:
I’ve been coffee-rubbing ribs for years now and still discovering the magical powers of a heavily spiced piece of grilled meat. It reminds me of a holiday prime rib with all of the herby salty flavor on the outside. These wings are tossed with my own fall version of blackening spice with pumpkin spices, cayenne pepper, dried thyme, and pepper. As these chicken wings bake in the oven, the chicken fat mixed with the spices to make a mouth-wateringly delicious bite. Pair these with a wing coating or dipping sauce and watch this recipe reach new heights. Which do you prefer out when it comes to a meaty appetizer?

Check out the full recipe here:
Pumpkin Spiced Chicken Wings

The Results:

I will never be sick of pumpkin spice. This experiment shows me that there is still so much discovery to cooking. My taste buds were dancing in this savory edition of pumpkin spice with flavors running from mild to intense, then funky to perfect. The pumpkin spice salsa had to be hands down my favorite non-meat variation of a pumpkin spiced appetizer. It hit all the notes from sweet, spicy, tangy, to umami. Salsa has no perfect recipe other than a technique and this salsa to me was perfect! Don’t be surprised to see pumpkin salsa on the store shelves next year. Coming in a close second were the pumpkin spiced chicken wings with it’s spice-y exterior and juicy center. This recipe was so addicting and what I love the most was how simple it was to execute. They were so delicious on their own, let alone with a wing sauce and dipping sauce. I will be adding wings back to my monthly dinner rotation. Pumpkin spice queso and pumpkin spice meatballs were absolutely tasty as well. The winner of most funky would be the pumpkin queso recipe. The spice with the cheese did overshadow the recipe as a whole, but I know there’s a place for it in a lamb mac and cheese or Moroccan lasangna. The meatballs had a delicious sweet and spice-y flavor, but they didn’t stand out as better than their rivals the classic barbecue meatballs. That recipe is delicious and I think would be splendid on a Swedish menu. Thank you for taking this wild ride with me to taste food with unconventional flavors. Do you want to see more? Let us know!