PUMPKIN& CAMEMBERT
BAKEDRISOTTO
PREP+ COOKTIME1 HOURSERVES 4875mlpreparedpumpkinsoup
2 cups(500ml)vegetablestock
2 tablespoonsoliveoil
1 largeonion(200g),choppedfinely
2 clovesgarlic,crushed
5 freshsageleaves
1½cups(300g)arboriorice
¾ cup(60g)shavedparmesan
350gjappumpkin,slicedthinly
intowedges
250gwholecamembertcheese
2 tablespoonsoliveoil,extra
12 freshsageleaves,extra
60gtrimmedwatercress
1 tablespoonlemonjuice
1/3 cup(45g)roastedhazelnuts,chopped1 Preheatovento180°C/160°Cfan.
2 Bringsoupandstocktotheboilin
a mediumsaucepan. Reduce heat;
simmer,covered.
3 Meanwhile,heatoilina medium
fryingpanovermediumheat;cook
onion,garlicandsage,stirring
occasionally,for5 minutesoruntil
onionsoftens.Addrice;stirtocoatin
onionmixture.Stirinsoupmixture and
halftheparmesan;season.
4 Spoonrisottointoa 2.5-litre
(10-cup)shallowovenproofdish.Top
withpumpkin,pushinginslightly;place
camembertincentre.Coverwithfoil.
5 Bakefor 15 minutes,stirringgently
halfwaythroughcookingtimewithout
disturbingcamembert.Bakefora
further 25 minutesoruntil rice and
pumpkinaretender.
6 Meanwhile,heatextraoilina small
fryingpanovermediumheat;cook
extrasageleavesfor1 minuteor until
crisp.Drainonpapertowel.
7 Combinewatercressandjuice in
a mediumbowl;season.
8 Serverisottotoppedwithhazelnuts,
crispsageleavesandremaining
parmesan;accompanywith the
watercress mixture.Healthbenefits
Pumpkinsarea richsourceof
fibre,antioxidantsandvitaminA.
VitaminAisregardedusefulin
preventingdegenerativediseasesand
maintaininghealthyeyesight.Pepitas
(pumpkinseedkernels)area good
sourceofprotein;theyprovideallthe
essentialaminoacids,makingthem
particularlyvaluableforvegetarians.
Theyarealsoanexcellentsourceof
magnesium,a mineralthatisthe
catalystforthemanybiochemical
reactionswithinthebodyrequired
fora healthyimmunesystem.
Commonvarieties
ButternutThisisa goodall-rounder
pumpkinsuitableforsoups,mashes
androasting.Ithasa paleorange
thinskinandiseasytopeel.
GoldenNuggetSmallandround
withawitha deeporangeskin,
thispumpkinissuitable for stuffing
androasting.
JarrahdaleThisisa largepumpkin
witha ribbedgreyskin.Ithas
asweet-flavouredfleshthat is
bestsuitedforroasting.
KentAlsoknownasJappumpkin,
ithasa greyribbedskinwithyellow
speckles.Ithasa yellow flesh andis
greatin salads.
QueenslandBlueThiswell-known
varietyhasgreyskinanda deep
orangeflesh.It isa goodall-rounder
pumpkin.Useincurries and roast
vegetablemixtures.
Pumpkintips
ChoosingWholepumpkinsshould
beunblemished,heavyfortheirsize
andstillhavesomestemattached
asa sealagainstdiseaseandinsect
invasion.Cutpumpkinshouldbe
bright-coloured,lookmoistbut
notwet, havefirmfleshandbefree
ofsoftspotsordiscolouration.
StoringKeepwholepumpkinsin
awell-ventilatedplaceawayfrom
heatandsunlightforupto2 months.
Hard-skinnedoneswilloftenstorefor
muchlongerthanthis;somesaythat
storingintheopenthroughwinter
improvespumpkins,makingthem
sweeter.Oncecut,removetheseeds,
coverwithplasticwrapandstorein
therefrigeratorforuptoa week.
PreparationPumpkinswithte nder
skincanbebakedorroastedskinand
all, andservedthatwayasthecooked
skinhaspleasanttextureandflavour.
Hard-shelledpumpkinsuchas
queenslandblue,hubbardandcrown
princecanalsobecookedwiththeskin
onandthentheskincanbecutaway
more easily than when it was raw.16 #COOKWITHTHEWEEKLY
In Season