Pumpkin

Potiron

What it is

The jack-o'-lantern began in Ireland as a carved turnip, hollowed to hold an ember and ward off a wandering soul called Stingy Jack. Irish emigrants found the American pumpkin far easier to cut, and the turnip was quietly abandoned.

In the kitchen

The big carving varieties are watery and bland. Buy a small dense one for eating and leave the giants to the lanterns.

Goes with

Nutmeg Cinnamon Sage Cream Butter Ginger Clove Chestnut

Same species

Butternut squash Courgette flower Kabocha Muscade de Provence squash Pattypan squash Red kuri squash

Also used with

Mostarda di Mantova Panch phoron Salted duck egg Pumpkin seed oil

In season alongside

Coco de Paimpol Arbutus berry Borlotti bean Cabbage Cauliflower Hedgehog mushroom

Something wrong here, or missing? Tell us