The Other Pumpkin

Pie may be the main place you’ll find pumpkin on Thanksgiving, but there are alternatives. One is calabaza en miel (pumpkin in syrup), a dark concoction of pumpkin simmered in brown sugar syrup until it’s almost a puree. You’ll find this dessert in the takeout section of La Adelita, a Latino food shop, tortilleria and bakery. A few pumpkin seeds are mixed in for decoration. To dress it up for the holidays, add cream or even vanilla ice cream.

Calabaza en miel, $1.25 per piece (about 2 servings) at La Adelita Food Co., 1287 S. Union Ave., Los Angeles. (213) 487-0176 and other locations.