The fields around where we live in the Campo are full of Pumpkins, ready for Halloween. They are still a bit small, but by the end of October there will be plenty on the markets. If you have children, you may well spend time scooping out the insides and carving a face on the front, but what to do with the flesh? Apart from the obvious Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin Soup (recipes below), there are many recipes including Pumpkin. How you ever tried Pumpkin Cheese Cake for example and of course most foods can be put in a wrap? In fact, why not try something different by changing your normal recipes by adding pumpkin and see what a difference the flavour makes?
Buen Apetito
Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars with Chocolate Topping
- ½ cup butter
- 3 eggs
- 8oz cream cheese
- 15 oz of pumpkin flesh
- 10oz broken biscuits, (digestives are best)
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 bar of chocolate (melted)
- ¼ cup butter
- 48 pecan halves
Preheat oven to 350º. Line a 15x10x1-inch pan with foil, extending foil over the edges. Lightly grease foil. Set pan aside. In a large bowl, cut ½ cup butter into biscuit mix until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the cream cheese. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating on low speed after each addition until just combined. Stir in pumpkin, vanilla and salt. Pour pumpkin mixture into baking tin. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until mixture is slightly puffed around edges and just set in centre. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Melt chocolate and pour over the top once cool and decorate with pecan halves.
Pumpkin Pie
- Sweet short crust pastry
- 450g pumpkin flesh
- 2 large eggs and 1 extra yolk
- 75g soft brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp freshly ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp ground allspice
- ½ tsp ground cloves
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- 275 ml double cream
Steam the pumpkin and press though a coarse sieve. Lightly whisk the eggs and the extra yolk in a large bowl. Place the sugar, cream and spices in a pan, bring to simmering point and whisk together. Pour over the eggs and whisk again. Add the pumpkin pulp and whisk again finally pour the mixture into the pastry case and bake on a 180º oven for 35-40 minutes. Serve chilled.
Pumpkin Soup
- 25g butter
- 700g pumpkin
- 3-4 carrots
- 2 medium onions
- 1.1 litre chicken stock
- Salt and pepper
- 1 medium orange
Melt butter in a saucepan. Add peeled and chopped carrots, chopped pumpkin and onions. Cook gently until the vegetables begin to soften. Add the stock and season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to the boil and simmer for 20 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Allow the soup to cool slightly and then sieve or blend. Finely grate the orange rind and add to the soup. Squeeze the juice from the orange and add to the soup. Gently reheat the soup and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
Pumpkin Pecan Wraps
- 8 wraps
- 1/3 cup pumpkin puree
- 3 tbsp brown sugar
- ¼ cup chopped pecans
- butter (optional)
Pre heat oven to 375º. Spread some pumpkin puree on one side of each wrap, then sprinkle some brown sugar and pecans on top of the puree. Roll from the bottom of the triangle to the point. Place them on the cookie sheet and cook in the oven for 12-13 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and brush with melted butter (completely optional). Serve warm. Note: the amount of pumpkin, brown sugar, and pecans can be increased or decreased per roll depending on your tastes.
Pumpkin and Bean Casserole
- 2 tsp Olive Oil
- I onion
- 2 cloves of garlic
- Small knob of fresh ginger, finely chopped
- 1 tin of red kidney beans
- ½ butternut pumpkin, cut into chunks
- 40gm mushrooms
- 750ml water
- Ground black pepper
- Salt-reduced soy sauce
- Toasted sesame seeds, to serve
Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add onion and sauté for a few minutes. Add garlic and ginger and sauté for another minute. Add pumpkin, beans, mushrooms and water and season with pepper and soy sauce. Leave to simmer for 20-30 minutes or until the beans are tender. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and serve with brown rice.