I adore the taste of pumpkin in all it’s transformations into pies, breads, roasted, toasted & baked. Pumpkins conjure up images of bonfires & baking, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” & a lifetime of Jack O’Lanterns.
Sunday morning at the Nashville Downtown Farmer’s Market I found myself in the midst of thousands of pumpkins, winter squash & gourds of every color tone, size & shape…from perfectly perfect to the fantastically gnarly…spread out & piled high, all beautiful. I purchased what is marketed as a “pie pumpkin”, about 2 lbs, for $1.00.
I went to my current favorite cookbook , “Tender/Vol 1” by Nigel Slater (4th Estate London, publisher), which is full of some of the best, most accessible recipes & cozy meanderings throughout his garden life. The photos are so yummy and real. I found a very simple, intriguing recipe entitled “A pumpkin pangrattato with rosemary and orange”.
Pangrattato is Italian for breadcrumbs
My version of this recipe comes with a few changes due to using what I had on hand which did not include parsley and did include a couple of fresh pears picked from my neighbors tree which is still heavy with fruit. Pumpkin, crispy pears, breadcrumbs..a very nice trio.
“A Smashing Pumpkin Pangrattato”
(very much based on Nigel Slater’s version with a few changes & additions)
For this version you will need the following:
2 lb pumpkin
3 cloves garlic
1/4 to 1/3 cup good olive oil
a finger size mild red chili
1 tbsp finely chopped rosemary leaves
the zest of half an orange
1 cup roughly chopped arugula leaves
3 cups fresh white breadcrumbs (I used a gluten-free sandwich bread)
Kerrygold butter (or any very good butter)
Directions:
1. Using a sharp knife cut pumpkin in half, clean out seeds & membrane. Cut pumpkin into bite size chunks and cut away the peel.
2. Place chunks of pumpkin in a steamer basket over boiling water. Steam for about 10 minutes or just until pumpkin is slightly softened. Meanwhile…..
3. Prep other ingredients..mince garlic, thinly slice red chili, finely chop rosemary….
……peel & chop 2 hard crispy pears into bite-size chunks, roughly chop arugula, zest half an orange & toss bread into the food processor to make fresh breadcrumbs.
4. Pour half of the olive oil into a large heavy skillet & turn heat to medium. Add garlic & chili to skillet & cook for a few minutes until garlic just begins to turn golden.
5. Check steaming pumpkin with a knife. When it is barely softened remove from heat. Set aside.
6. Into skillet with garlic & chili add the chopped rosemary, orange zest, chopped arugula & bread crumbs.
7. The goal here to create the perfect “pangrattato/breadcrumbs” is to turn the soft breadcrumbs into beautiful golden brown crispy breadcrumbs without burning them. So leave on medium heat stirring often until ingredients are browned & crispy throughout. This might take about 10 minutes.Remove from heat
8. To assemble & bake turn the oven to 350 degrees. Butter a casserole dish & add in steamed pumpkin. Scatter chopped pear over the pumpkin.
9. Lastly scatter top of pumpkin-pears with a few pieces of Kerrygold butter. Sprinkle pangrattato/breadcrumbs over top evenly. Drizzle with a bit more of the olive oil & bake for about 30-40 minutes. Top will be very golden brown & the pumpkin & pears will be softened but still holding their shape.
10. This dish can be eaten as a main course or side dish, but for our dinner I cooked up some Quinoa pasta & tossed it with a few tablespoons of olive oil & black pepper & salt. The serving of pasta was then topped with Pumpkin Pangrattato, a few shreds of freshly grated Parmesan Reggiano along side a glass of slightly chilled Pinot Noir which was one perfect Sunday dinner for a warm October evening in Nashville.
Some Music for October evenings:
“October” (Song & Album, U2) Universal Island Records 2008
“Red Hot Chili Peppers Snow ((Hey OH))” Warner Bros 2006
“Farm Fresh Onions” (song & album, Robert Earl Keen) 2003 Koch Records
“October Song” (Song/Album”Frank”, Amy Winehouse)
“1979” (Smashing Pumpkins, Smashing Pumpkins Greatest Hits) 2001
“Parsley Sage Rosemary & Thyme” (Album Simon & Garfunkel)1966
A Little 
Gallery
boo!
Squash has been cooked several times in my kitchen, yet steaming has yet to be my cooking method…will remedy that with at least one of the squashes sitting pretty in my basket.
Now, as far as pumpkin…I have yet to try eating one…yep…never tasted it before. I always decorated them and they unfortunately never really made it to my plate. A dedication shall be preserved for one of them and just I’ll have to try your twist on such an appetizing dish.
Teresa, this post was superb…full of life…love it ;o)
Ciao for now and flavourful wishes,
Claudia
Thanks for the thoughtful comments. Let me know how your pumpkin cooking turns out. As it is a new world food I always feel in touch with a long line of history when I cut into a fresh pumpkin and turn it into a modern dish.
Lovely photos as always. I have some cubed pumpkin in the fridge and I think I might have to make this! Looks just amazing!
Do you know how much bread I have hanging around? For some reason, I either have none or 5 loaves. So, I will be making this, as you know I adore pumpkin in all it’s iterations. And…….once again….I’m left speechless as to the beauty and charm of your posts. They are like taking a mini vacation. I think I shall post this link on our facebook–which will fry the big cheeses, but so be it. This must be seen. Hugs. Jill
Jill, thanks for your nice comments from over at therelishdish.wordpress.com. I always am so pleased that you drop by. T
And i was the lucky one to eat it and i will tell you delicious.
I love pumpkin pie. Next to peach pie, it is my favorite. I have never met a pumpkin pie I did not enjoy thoroughly!!!
John, I agree. Eating anything pumpkin always makes me very happy. Not only the taste which is so great, but knowing the history and long line of pumpkin recipes that have influenced whatever it is “pumpkin” I am eating right now. Thanks.
wow! a panopoly (is that a word? what does it mean?i like the way it sounds) of pumpkins and interesting recipe.
terry
“Panopoly”….I do not know if it is a word, but it certainly is now….a perfectly descriptive word for a group of things!
i love your little sign that says you can’t eat money!! Also, food looks good too 😉
PS. Did the butter ever make it to you??
Yes, Kristy, I did receive my wonderful little package of the three jars of blueberry-cardamom butter and soon you will see a tasty delight I whipped up using some of it to make a tasty little tart. I love the flavor very much, not too sweet, very blueberry tasting with just a hint of one of my favorite spices, cardamom. Thank you very much and I am so happy to have a little bit of BC here in Nashville.
This looks and sounds absolutely wonderful!
I too have Nigel Slater’s “Tender”. What a great book!
I love your photographs of all those pumpkins and I most certainly love that dish of yours.
I like the little “peahead” punkin’ on top of the stack…is that supposed to be me? John Prine’s “Daddy’s little Pumpkin” is a sweet punkin’ song too.
Love the dish, right up my alley and so pretty too!
those versatile pumpkins are astonishing; gnarly or not, they are a joy to behold, a pleasure to eat.
And what beauties those pears are! you write that the neighbor’s tree is still laden with them….mustn’t we pay that tree a visit?
I’m just catching up with your blog now that I have returned from vacation. The pumpkin and pear pangrattato served over a simple pasta must have been absolutely delicious. It certainly does look good.