I don’t post enough dip recipes on my website. When basically every dip on the market contains onion and garlic, this seems like a missed opportunity. Today I am righting this oversight with a new recipe for this low FODMAP pumpkin feta dip. It is almost embarrassingly simple to make yet tastes like it took you hours. What could be better than that?

Low FODMAP pumpkin feta dip

Name: Low FODMAP pumpkin feta dip
Prep time: 15 min
Ingredients: 80 ml (1/3 cup)* olive oil; 3-4 garlic cloves (papery skin removed and sliced); 250 g pumpkin puree (see notes); 200 g good quality Danish feta; 1-2 teaspoons hot honey or maple syrup; Lemon juice (to taste); Seasoning (to taste)

This dip recipe uses a very simple mix of pumpkin puree, Danish feta and garlic infused oil. You can add flourishes, of course, but this is the recipe core. I have to say, the recipe core is delicious as is, but I will go into some flavour options below.

An aerial image of a plate of pumpkin feta dip on a marble table in contrasting sunlight. A water glass sits to the top left of the image and plates are casually arranged around the edges.

Tips for your low FODMAP pumpkin dip

I know I am going to lose some readers for this, but I have to say it: I don’t think canned pumpkin puree is very good. I am Australian and I bought a can of Libbys for an exorbitant $12 Australian dollars recently.

While I can’t deny the convenience of it, I was underwhelmed by the taste. To me, it was very savoury and had a tannin, tea like back note to it. It absolutely could be a matter of taste and what I’m used to, don’t get me wrong. But I didn’t feel like it was sweet enough to shine in this recipe.

If you can, I really do recommend making your own pumpkin puree. I will go into my simple method below – it takes 20 minutes max, and most of that is cooking time. Homemade pumpkin puree tastes sweeter, more well rounded and more like pumpkin. Because this is a pumpkin dip with so few ingredients, it really does shine through and make a difference.

However, I understand that life is busy! If you live somewhere where pumpkin puree is accessible and you enjoy it, feel free. I would recommend adding some sweetness to compensate – maple syrup would be perfect. Add it to your tastes.

An aerial image of a white speckled ceramic plate topped with low FODMAP pumpkin feta dip. The dip is adorned with a wreath of candied walnuts and crispy sage leaves. The plate sits atop a white stone benchtop and glasses of water sit to the top of the image.

Ingredient notes

We have discussed the pumpkin puree above and below. TLDR: I recommend easy homemade puree over canned, but the choice is yours.
Danish feta has no substitute here. It’s saltier, smoother and easier to blend into a smooth dip. If you want to try Greek feta, you do you (but I can’t guarantee the same result). I highly recommend Danish feta. It’s easily accessible and inexpensive at all Australian supermarkets.
An important note on the feta: choose a good quality brand for a smooth dip. Cheaper brands (which I normally use) seem to leave the dip a tiny bit chunky.
Garlic infused oil is my favourite way to add flavour to low FODMAP dips. There is absolutely no comparison between homemade and store bought. It takes all of 5 minutes to make.
A note on garlic infused oil and food safety. Garlic and garlic infused products have a small but important risk of developing botulism. This is why I always recommend making garlic infused oil in small quantities, keeping it in the fridge and using it within a few days.

An aerial sunlit image of a white ceramic plate topped with pumpkin feta dip. The dip is decorated with candied walnuts, crispy sage leaves and chilli flakes. It sits atop a dark olive linen tablecloth and a water glass sits to the top left of the image. A white ceramic plate of crackers sits to the bottom right of the dip.

How to make your own pumpkin puree (the easy way)

Because I live in Australia and we don’t really have canned pumpkin, I have been making my own puree forever. I have tested every method for doing it and the microwave is my preferred way.

Why? Steaming pumpkin over boiling water can take ages if you don’t have the right setup. Boiling pumpkin water adds unnecessary liquid that will throw off the ratio of the average pumpkin. This could mean you end up with a soggy cake, having inadvertently introduced too much water.

Baking pumpkin, although positive for flavour, has a few drawbacks. Firstly, it takes 30+ minutes. Secondly, it either adds oil into the mix or it runs the risk of leathery pumpkin skins once the pumpkin is cooked (if you don’t hover over it). These then need to be sieved out, which adds to the time taken. Finally, baking pumpkin takes up oven space and time when I normally have things on the go.

Microwaving avoids all of these pitfalls. It’s also the quickest method of cooking pumpkin, which is why I like it.

Of course, this all goes without saying: use the pumpkin puree you want to use, made how you want to make it. This is just my way of making it.

An aerial image of a white speckled ceramic plate topped with pumpkin dip on a white marble table. The plate of dip is adorned with a wreath of candied walnuts and crispy sage leaves. The plate is surrounded by other smaller white plates of crackers, nuts and crudites.

How to make pumpkin puree in the microwave

Remove the skin and seeds from your pumpkin and chop it into relatively small cubes, around 2cm x 2cm.
Place the cubes in a tall microwave safe bowl. A tall bowl as opposed to a flat, open bowl will help trap steam and steam the pumpkin pieces instead of making the skin leathery.
Microwave for 5 minutes. This will depend heavily on your microwave as they are all different wattage. Once you make it a few times you’ll get a sense of how long it needs to cook.
After the 5 minutes, stir the pumpkin cubes up. Distribute the cubes that were on top to the bottom and vice versa. Return the bowl to the microwave and allow to sit in the steamy environment for around 5-10 minutes. This will also allow the bowl to cool a little to ensure it doesn’t get too hot.
Repeat by cooking the pumpkin for another 5 minutes. Once the five minutes is up, stir and smash the pumpkin and return it to the steamy microwave. It should be easily mashable at this point.
Allow the pumpkin to cool a little before blending to a smooth consistency. If you’re using a blender without a steam valve (like a Nutribullet) allow it to cool completely before blending.
You can pass the pumpkin puree through a sieve if you like, but I generally never do. It may be helpful for things like a pumpkin pie where texture is super important.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and use within a few days. The puree can also be frozen and defrosted.

An aerial close up image of a white ceramic speckled plate topped with low FODMAP pumpkin feta dip. The dip is adorned with a wreath of candied walnuts, crispy sage leaves and chilli flakes. The plate sits atop a dark olive linen tablecloth and two glasses of water sit in the top of the image.

Flavour options for your low FODMAP pumpkin feta dip

I love this pumpkin feta dip as it is, but there are plenty of ways you can jazz it up.

A pinch of nutmeg or a grating or fresh nutmeg would be lovely. I imagine pumpkin spice would also add a festive touch (we don’t have it here in Australia).
Some crispy sage leaves and a drizzle of maple syrup (or hot honey, if you tolerate honey). Regular honey is low FODMAP in 1 teaspoon serves per person.
Some chilli flakes or a chilli and garlic infused oil to drizzle over the dip.
Honeyed walnuts or pecans sprinkled over the top to serve.
Dukkah or another seed mix sprinkled over the top to serve.

A moody aerial image of heirloom pumpkins on a dark wooden backdrop

More low FODMAP pumpkin recipes