Pumpkins are devilishly delicious
These delightful members of the cucurbit clan pack more than just a festive punch. They scare away diseases with their powerful immune boosting antioxidants, including alpha-carotene and beta-carotene, which give these fall vegetables their stunning orange hue. These fierce fighters help protect your eyes, enhance your immune system and aid in cancer prevention. Pumpkins also look after your beauty. Their hydroxy acids (AHA) drive away dead skin cells to reveal a radiant, younger looking skin.
And last but not least, the spicy scent of pumpkin is a surefire way to turn up the heat with your guy. According to studies at The Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, the scent of pumpkin is probably one of your man’s top-rated aphrodisiacs.
Time to cook him some pumpkin! Pumpkin pie is THE great classic, but why not try some more sophisticated recipes like pumpkin or butternut squash velouté, absolutely divine with coconut milk, lime and ginger? A spicy pumpkin chili could also bring your senses to the table. If you are a fan of fusion cooking, roast it and to serve it with couscous or quinoa.
Roasted Hokkaido pumpkin with couscous and haloumi cheese
Preheat oven to 220 ˚C (standard) or 200 ˚C (fan/convection).
Wash and dry a 600 g Hokkaido pumpkin, butternut squash or another pumpkin you like. Remove the seeds. Cut the pumpkin into 3 cm squares. Place them in a casserole dish and toss them with 2 tablespoons olive, sesame or coconut oil, salt, 1 lime juice, 2 cm grated fresh ginger, salt and pepper, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoon hot paprika powder, ½ teaspoon turmeric powder. Put in the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
Mix 150 g Greek yogurt with 1 tablespoon tahini, salt, pepper and the juice of half a lime.
Serve your pumpkin cubes with couscous or quinoa, fresh baby spinach, grilled haloumi cheese or crumbled feta cheese, sliced Medjool Dates, pomegranate seeds, pine nut kernels and sprouted seeds. Decorate with tahini sauce and serve with pride.
And don’t forget to roast the pumpkin seeds in the oven. So healthy and delicious as a snack, yummy in yogurts, smashing in salads and totally scrumptious sprinkled sautéed vegetables and divine in bread dough.
More stunning and savourous recipes in
Le Dictionnaire à tout faire anticrise
