The Best Kidney-Friendly Pumpkin-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe - KNI - Kidney Nutrition Institute (2024)

15 Comments / By KNI

The holidays are right around the corner, and most holiday feasts end with a slice of classic pumpkin pie! While pumpkin pie may not be the highest potassium dish at the table, it is considered a high potassium food. Not to worry, we’ve got you covered with this kidney-friendly mock pumpkin pie!

I feel like this recipe comes down to “where there is a will there is a way.” I’ve thought A LONG time about a low potassium “pumpkin” pie being made with spaghetti squash. A very long time. One year to be exact. I wanted to make it last year, but I had a new baby, and it was just busy and time got away from me.

This year, I was determined to get the recipe out before Thanksgiving to showcase how it is possible to really have some livable LOVABLE food for a #renaldiet. THIS pie is something you can eat and enjoy and have a second slice without worrying about exceeding your potassium limit.

What happens when you make pumpkin pie without pumpkin?

Classic pumpkin pie is generally not the most kidney-friendly option at Thanksgiving dinner.It is made with evaporated milk (boo!) and a hefty dose of eggs (okay). Not to mention the canned

The real taste though is in the spices.This pumpkin pie is knock off from Minimalist Baker’s Vegan Pumpkin Pie. I swapped the pumpkin out for finely pureed spaghetti squash and used KidneyGrub’s low sodium flaky pie crust. In addition, we used cornstarch instead of eggs and evaporated milk.

The result? 56% reduction in potassium, 69% reduction in phos, and 75% reduction in sodium (and that’s with added salt in the recipe). Check out how classic pumpkin pie compares to our recipe in the table below!

Serv size 1/8 of 9” pieClassic Pumpkin Pie (per NCCDB)KidneyGrub Pumpkin-free Pumpkin Pie
Calories318360
Protein7 g3.7 g
Carbs40 g44 g
Potassium282 mg125 mg
Phosphorus145 mg45 mg
Sodium359 mg90 mg
Fiber2 g2 g

The Best Kidney-Friendly Pumpkin-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe - KNI - Kidney Nutrition Institute (3)What our taste-testers said about pumpkinless pumpkin pie

I took the pie (what we didn’t eat and photo-shoot) to my dialysis unit the next day to let the staff taste test. Consensus? Excellent.The crust (THIS crust)was flaky but firm enough to hold the pie.The pie has wonderful flavors due to the spicy, though more mild and less dense texture than traditional pumpkin pie.Even our medical director gave the pie a thumbs up (and said his old-time-baking Grandma would have been proud of THAT crust!).

I agreed with all of these observations and consider this one of my favorite low potassium kidney-friendly recipes that we’ve sported yet.

So, if pumpkin pie’s your thing (or even if it isn’t) THIS is a livable, lovable recipe! Livable, because it’s easy and you don’t have to worry about potassium, phos, sodium.Lovable, because it’s so good!

The Best Kidney-Friendly Pumpkin-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe - KNI - Kidney Nutrition Institute (5)

Kidney Friendly Pumpkin-Free Pumpkin Pie

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Low Phosphorus, Low Potassium, Low Protein, Low Sodium, Plant-Based

Diet Type: CKD, Dialysis, VLPD

Servings: 8 people

Calories: 216kcal

Author: Jessianna Saville, MS, RDN, CSR, LD, CLT

Ingredients

Filling:

  • 2 3/4 cups pureed spaghetti squash the squash can be prepared up to 2 days and stored until it's ready to be used
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened plain almond milk
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil or melted coconut oil
  • 2 1/2 Tbsp cornstarch or arrowroot powder
  • 1 3/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice or sub mix of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg & cloves
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • Your favorite crust Our favorite crust is the low sodium pie crust

Instructions

To prepare spaghetti squash for filling:

  • Preheat the oven to 400℉ (204℃).

  • Using a large chef's knife, slice the spaghetti squash in half lengthwise through the stem and scoop the seeds out with a large spoon. Place the squash cut side down in a large baking dish or roasting pan. Add a little water to the pan (just to cover the bottom) or cover the pan with foil. Roast the squash for 30 to 45 minutes or until it is tender. When the squash is fully cooked, the flesh will pierce easily and when scraped with a fork, will separate into spaghetti-like strands. After the squash has cooled, puree in a blender or food processor until smooth. Set aside 2 3/4 cups of pureed squash to use for the filling.

To prepare the pie:

  • Preheat oven to 350℉ (176℃ ) and prepare pie filling.

  • Add all pie ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth, scraping down sides as needed. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Pour filling into pie crust and bake for 58-65 minutes. The crust should be light golden brown and the filling will still be just a bit jiggly and have some cracks on the top. Remove from oven and let cool completely before loosely covering and transferring to the refrigerator to fully set for 4-6 hours, preferably overnight.

  • Slice and serve with your whipped topping of choice.

Nutrition

Calories: 216kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 88mg | Potassium: 103mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 43IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 2mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @KNI_Care or tag #KNIrecipes!

The Best Kidney-Friendly Pumpkin-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe - KNI - Kidney Nutrition Institute (2024)

FAQs

Can kidney patients eat pumpkin pie? ›

However, sweet potato contains a lot of potassium, so its intake should be limited. Pecan pie, apple pie and pumpkin pie are popular and delicious Thanksgiving desserts, but renal patients should minimize their intake.

Can you eat pumpkin if you have stage 3 kidney disease? ›

For patients on a low potassium diet, pumpkin can be included in small amounts. For best results, stick to recipes modified for a kidney-friendly diet to keep potassium, phosphorus and sodium intake in check.

Does pumpkin pie have a lot of phosphorus? ›

Prepared, frozen pumpkin pie contains around 350 mg sodium, 250 mg potassium and 100 mg phosphorus for 1/6th of a 9-inch pie.

What pies are low in potassium? ›

Select lower potassium desserts like cake and fruit pies instead of pecan pie, pumpkin pie or chocolate and nut desserts.

Does pumpkin reduce creatinine? ›

Add some pumpkin, chia, or flax seeds to your diet to help reduce inflammation and improve kidney function. Pumpkin, sunflower seeds, chia, and flax seeds provide potential benefits for individuals with kidney-related issues, including high creatinine levels.

Can you eat baked potatoes with kidney disease? ›

Objective(s): Despite the nutritional benefits of potato tuber, patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) should limit the consumption because of its high potassium content.

How many eggs can a kidney patient eat per day? ›

Most people with chronic kidney disease need between 60-70 grams of protein a day, which is the amount in about 7 ounces of meat or 10 large eggs.

Can you eat baked beans with kidney disease? ›

Most people with CKD not on dialysis and post-transplant do not have to limit beans due to potassium or phosphorus. If your laboratory results show higher levels of potassium or phosphorus, talk to a kidney dietitian.

What are the worst foods for stage 3 kidney disease? ›

Limit intake of foods with high levels of phosphate or phosphate additives such as organ meats, whole grain breads, processed foods, cola beverages, cheese, dried beans, liver, peanut butter, dairy products and chocolate. 5. Monitor your potassium levels.

Which meat has the least phosphorus? ›

What You'll Find on This Page
Meat or PoultryPhosphorus Content
Chicken thigh, skinless150 mg
Hamburger patty, 90 percent lean170 mg
Lamb chop185 mg
Pork chop200 mg
7 more rows

How unhealthy is a pumpkin pie? ›

Yes, the actual pumpkin in the dish is quite healthy, but the butter and flour in the crust as well as the cream and sugar needed for the filling add a good dose of saturated fat and calories.

What desserts are low phosphorus? ›

Low-phosphorus holiday treats from DaVita dietitians
DessertsDrinks
Angel CookiesChampagne Punch
Apple BarsCaramel Protein Latte
Cheese TartsFabulous Hot Chocolate
Cranberries in SnowGinger-Apple Sparkler
5 more rows

Is pumpkin pie bad for CKD? ›

Pumpkin pie filling - This is typically a mixture of pumpkin puree and added sugar, milk, and/or salt. This type of pumpkin product can contain added sugars, which is something to be mindful of with CKD.

What ice cream is kidney friendly? ›

For low potassium options, choose fruit flavours that are traditionally low in potassium like: lemon, lime, raspberry, strawberry or vanilla.

Is pumpkin pie high in potassium? ›

The holidays are right around the corner, and most holiday feasts end with a slice of classic pumpkin pie! While pumpkin pie may not be the highest potassium dish at the table, it is considered a high potassium food. Not to worry, we've got you covered with this kidney-friendly mock pumpkin pie!

Does canned pumpkin have potassium? ›

To help decrease your blood pressure, try eating pumpkin, which contains potassium that helps to control blood pressure. Potassium also helps with bone health and decreases your risk for diabetes. Around 10% of your daily potassium is found in just a half-cup serving of canned pumpkin.

Can CKD patients eat pecan pie? ›

Dessert: Select low potassium desserts such as cake or fruit pies. Limit or avoid pecan pie, pumpkin pie, fruitcake or chocolate desserts – these are higher in potassium. Angel food cake, pound cake, snickerdoodles, and carrot cake are better choices.

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