Probably the best pumpkin recipe in the world...

i have talked of my passion for eating pumpkin previously (an unusual culinary habit for an english girl). as all hallows is in spring now I'm a southern hemisphere-er i've less enthusiasm for the northern traditional celebrations, but the pumpkin passion endures. of all my many pumpkin-centric recipes, this is my favourite. personally because just I love strong flavoured food, but also in a culinary self-esteem raising way too, as no matter where i serve this I am always asked for the recipe. not that it's my recipe as such, it was an attempt to copy a hot pumpkin salad i ate out once (so if you know of the source of the original by any chance, do let me know). the fact that it's suitable for the northern hemisphere (served hot) or the southern (served chilled) is a bonus as i can both use that to convince the pumpkin-dubious english amongst you to give it a go (i know there are pumpkins in your shops right now!) and eat it year round, pumpkin availability notwithstanding.


pumkin & feta salad

pumpkin peeled and cubed (approx 1 inch cubes) anywhere between 750g and 1.5 kgs works
1-2 red capsicum sliced
1/2 red onion chopped
250 g feta cheese cubed
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds-toasted
1/4 cup pine nuts-toasted
1 tsp ground cinnamon
3 tbs olive oil
1 tsp crushed garlic
1/2 cup chopped basil leaves (optional)


3 tbs olive oil
3 tbs balsalmic vinegar
1 tbs wholegrain mustard
Place in a lidded container and shake

salt and pepper

roast the sliced peppers until slightly charred. roast the pumpkin cubes-rolled in olive oil, cinnamon and garlic until just soft. allow to chill if serving cold. mix all the ingredients together and then stir through the dressing TO TASTE (if serving later, keep the pine nuts and pumpkin seeds aside until serving so they don't go soggy). then season to taste.



pumpkin eating aside, and given that claud refuses to touch the stuff no matter how i serve it (the english pumpkin-dubious genes endure it seems, sigh) i am keen to establish some halloween traditions for her. we visited her grandfathers grave today, in the spirit of the old world idea that all hallows is a time when the connections between the living and dead are closest. interesting. tricky. a bit to early. conclusion? claud "...dadas dada bed in the garden?". me. "mmm. yeah. kind of...". a less parentally stressful ritual has been the potting up of pumpkin seeds for planting out when the ground warms up further in a few weeks time. we've potted up Kings Seeds Amish Pie (cucurbita maxima) for eating, and baby bear (cucurbita pepo) for Clauds autumn entertainment. and though i'm not at all into the dressing-up-as-ghouls american approach (though this nearly swayed me), i have just taught claud a trick, and she is immensely keen on treats, and so it seems a visit to the neighbours is on the cards later...

i'd love to know what the halloween traditions are in your family or your part of the world, do tell!

(for me growing up in the north of england trick or treating was still a foreign novelty and halloween was all about the parkin. 


ps if you fancy a bit of halloween worthy truly 'scary'' food why not join me in the retro cook-off?

Linking up with Ta-Da! Tuesdays halloween special!