Recipe for grain-free pumpkin waffles for dogs

Autumn is pumpkin season, and so today I have a simple recipe for grain-free pumpkin waffles. Since the carrot apple biscuits were such a hit with you all, you'll probably love this veggie treat variation too.

Let's take a look at what we need, what there is to know about pumpkin and chickpea flour, and get started right away!

Kitchen utensils

Knife
Saucepan
Mixing bowl, ideally 2
Whisk
Sieve
Small bowl to catch the cooking water
Immersion blender or hand blender
Waffle iron

Ingredients

150g pumpkin — that's roughly 1/4 of a small Hokkaido pumpkin (the rest can be used for a soup ;) )
100ml sunflower oil or another oil of your choice
2 eggs
150g chickpea flour
100ml pumpkin cooking water

Good to know about pumpkin and chickpea flour for dogs

Because of Archie's epilepsy and the special diet that comes with it, I keep a close eye on what the two Frenchies eat. So here are a few facts about pumpkin and chickpea flour as they relate to dogs.

Important facts about pumpkin

Pumpkins are rich in vitamins A, C and E and contain nutrients such as magnesium, potassium and zinc. These vitamins and nutrients are important for the immune system, general wellbeing, bones, teeth, bladder function and eyes.
Pumpkin is very filling yet at the same time low in calories, which can help with weight loss, i.e. shedding those extra pounds.
Pumpkin is considered a gentle food. It is high in fibre, keeping you full for a long time, stimulating digestion and preventing constipation.
Pumpkin is therefore very well suited for overweight dogs and dogs with allergies.
Always use pumpkins from shops. Home-grown or wild field pumpkins can contain so-called cucurbitacins (toxic bitter compounds, which also apply to courgettes) that can cause vomiting, salivation and diarrhoea (= poisoning). These bitter compounds cannot be neutralised by cooking.

Useful facts about chickpea flour

Chickpea flour is made from dried chickpeas and therefore has nothing to do with grain.
The flour has a high density and is very high in fibre.
Chickpea flour is substantial and rich in protein, making it an additional protein source.
It creates light, airy batters.
Here it's available at the drugstore.
It is relatively "expensive" compared to other flours. If you'd prefer a cheaper option, I can recommend potato flour as an alternative.

Recipe for grain-free pumpkin waffles

How do I make the pumpkin waffles for dogs?

First, quarter the pumpkin and remove the seeds. Weigh the vegetable and make sure you have roughly 150g. I like to use Hokkaido pumpkin because I don't need to peel it. Cut the required amount into smaller pieces and place them in a saucepan with water. Cook the pumpkin until it is soft.

While the pumpkin cools down a little, you can whisk the 2 eggs. Once they are slightly frothy, add 100ml of sunflower oil and continue mixing.

Once the pumpkin and its cooking water have cooled down a little, drain the cooking water into a separate bowl. Then purée the pumpkin pieces into a smooth mash. I simply use an immersion blender for this.

Pureeing pumpkin with an immersion blender

Now add the pumpkin purée to the egg and oil mixture, then weigh out 150g of chickpea flour. Gradually stir it in.

Puréed pumpkin added to the egg and oil mixture

To keep the batter from getting too thick, add the pumpkin cooking water as well and stir vigorously until you have a smooth consistency.

How long do the grain-free pumpkin waffles need to bake?

Now the time has come and the batter can go into the waffle iron. My waffle iron needed approximately 4–5 minutes. I just opened it to check and baked the next batch once it had reached the right golden colour.

My waffle iron made exactly 8 and a half waffles. The pumpkin waffles that weren't wolfed down straight away I keep in the fridge. They stay fresh there for a few days — around 4–5.

After baking, the pups still have to be patient until the treat has cooled down. But then it's time to tuck in and put them to the taste test!