Pumpkin
Pumpkin – a bright orange color vegetable, which is home to South America. They can reach up to one meter in diameter and weigh more than 200 kg. Cultivation of pumpkins started by ancient Indian tribes. They used the flesh for cooking a variety of dishes, the seeds oil, and rough skin as a cookware.
Pumpkins are the most famous of all the winter squashes, and are most associated with Halloween lanterns.
Usually the most delicious pumpkins are small, weighing less than 5 kg, the biggest pumpkins are most often not very juicy and fragrant. The flesh of large pumpkins are usually too dry or watery.
There are summer and winter varieties of pumpkin. Winter varieties differ with thicker skin and firm flesh, so they are more suitable for the preparation of fillings for pies or baking in the oven. Summer pumpkins are tender, juicy and softer, perfect for cooking.
Some sweet pumpkin varieties its better to not cook and instead use raw invegetable or fruit salads. Make sure to choose a variety of pumpkin that’s intended for cooking rather than for decoration. The ubiquitous field pumpkin – the kind most commonly used to carve jack-o’-lanterns – has watery, stringy flesh. Sugar pumpkins and cheese pumpkins are varieties that are good for cooking and baking.
Pumpkin dishes are very popular and widespread, they are easily digestible and can be used as a baby food. They are an excellent source of fiber, as well as a range of vitamins and minerals. Pumpkin is very versatile and compatible with nearly all ingredients like meat, eggs, vegetables, cereals, cheese and fruit, and because of the mild flavor, it can be
complemented with sharp notes – lemon, garlic, horseradish, peppers or any spices and aromatic herbs.
You can make healthy juice from pumpkin adding, for example, apples, carrots, celery. Also delicious and healthy desserts, such as soufflés, mousse or ice cream can be prepared.
All dishes are good, but baking pumpkin in an oven probably displays the most natural color taste and flavor. Cut intochunks and bake or roast for 30-40 minutes. The pumpkin seeds are also valuable, just add them to your salads or pastries, it gives some spiciness and a pleasant, nutty taste to the dish. Pumpkin seed oil is also great for salads.
Here are some recipes:
https://internationalmenu.com/?ingredient=pumpkin
