You are sitting in the kitchen, looking at a pumpkin that you have at the table, the one that you were looking at all week in your kitchen and ask yourself: "What do I do with this?" Well, prepare for not thinking anymore and expand your repertoire of pumpkin recipes .
Welcome to Paulina Kitchen ! Today we are going to see how to transform a simple pumpkin into a rock star, worthy of a standing ovation. And no, I'm not exaggerating. I am going to show you how to prepare an Hasselback pumpkin , which is not only delicious, but is also visually beautiful.
This recipe has everything so much that in the middle we discover an unexpected romance between the pumpkin and the lemon that will change your life, or at least, your way of seeing the combinations of flavor with pumpkin .
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About the Hasselback pumpkin
This is an especially easy and delicious recipe, which combines the natural sweetness of violin pumpkin with the acidity of the lemon and a spicy touch to create a flavored party in your kitchen and in your mouth. So get ready to cook something that will make you forget that you once underestimated pumpkin.
Recipe with violin pumpkin, the chosen
Before entering this dish, let's talk a little about the star of the day: the violin pumpkin . This is a type of pumpkin, which is also known as Butternut Squash . It is not the typical Halloween pumpkin, with its terrifying and empty face inside (like your ex, but that is another topic).
- The violin pumpkin has a stylized shape , a soft skin and a interior that is pure orange gold. Sweet, soft, and with a very versatile flavor.
This variety of pumpkin is perfect for certain dishes due to its elongated shape, its dense meat, soft texture and sweet flavor , they make it a favorite for both salty and sweet dishes. Examples:
- Pumpkin cream
- Pumpkin puree
- Roasted pumpkin
- Pumpkin stew
- Roasted pumpkin salad
- Pumpkin cake
- Pumpkin ravioli
- Pumpkin gratin
The violin pumpkin is not only a star ingredient among the pumpkin recipes , but it is also one of the most versatile in the kitchen. Do you want a puree? There it is. Do you prefer a soup? Violin pumpkin makes it possible.
Hasselback pumpkin preparation with patience
Let's start with the basics. For this Hasselback pumpkin recipe , you will need very few ingredients, from now on a violin pumpkin. The ingredients are very few:
- Pumpkin
- Ginger ?
- Garlic (or better garlic pasta )?
- Lemon juice?
Once you have your pumpkin, the first step is to cut it into fine sheets, without going through it completely.
trick of the Sushi sticks comes into play the idea is to place two sushi sticks on the sides of the pumpkin and cut the pumpkin into sheets, the sticks will help you to make the knife do not reach the end, so the pumpkin is going to keep intact while cooking, giving it a perfect texture. Illustrative photo:
An unexpected romance: pumpkin and lemon
If I tell you that you close your eyes and imagine ... the sweet smoothness of the pumpkin , encountering the acidity of the lemon in the same dish. Sounds a bit weird, right? As a romantic film couple where opposites attract.
Let me promise that when these two flavors come together on a plate, something magical happens. The Hasselback pumpkin recipe is proof that you do not have to close to new and innovative flavors, because they can be extraordinary.
The violin pumpkin , also known as Butternut , has a subtle sweetness and a soft texture that makes it perfect for this type of preparation. The lemon, on the other hand, adds that necessary acid touch to balance the richness of the pumpkin, this duo will give us a dish that is everything but boring.
2 Tricks for Pumpkin Recipe Hasselback: because we all need help
In this recipe we use garlic and ginger paste, ingredients that you may hesitate to get, so let's talk about two truquitos so you don't think about it.
- The first trick is garlic paste. If in general avoid using garlic because you end with your hands smelling on garlic for days. The solution is to prepare a good amount of garlic pasta at once and freeze it in small portions. Thus, every time you need a touch of flavor in your recipes, it will only be a matter of defrosting what is necessary.
- Trick 2, always fresh ginger. It once happened to us, buying an entire ginger to use a little in a recipe and then is forgotten in the refrigerator until it looks like a fossil. Avoid waste. Cut the ginger into slices and congress it. In this way, you will always have fresh ginger by hand; Just take a slication and use it at the moment.
The Salsa del Cielo for your Hasselback pumpkin
Now we are going to prepare a special sauce for pumpkin , and please what salsa! It is the one that carries this dish from good to spectacular.
- Start with a couple of tablespoons of cream cheese . You can choose the cream cheese that you like, even a vegan cream.
- To this we add peanut paste or any other dry fruit you have.
- The final touch is a few drops of lemon juice for that acid contrast that complements perfectly with the sweetness of the pumpkin.
- Mix well until you get a soft cream.
And if you have good taste, now you add a touch of spicy, why not add a little bit of itching to life? Always welcome.
The power of pumpkin and lemon: an acidic lover
Now, let's talk about lemon. That citrus that we sometimes overlook, but that has the power to raise any dish to unimagined levels. In this Hasselback pumpkin recipe, lemon is the acid lover that contrasts perfectly with the sweetness of violin pumpkin .
It is that unexpected touch that, at first, makes you frown, but then you realize that you could not live without it.
We already talked about violin, lemon pumpkin and how this Pumpkin recipe Hasselback can change your life (or at least your dinner). And ready, we leave you with the recipe and video of this recipe, what time. Chau.
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Hasselback pumpkin recipe
Yield: 4 portions
Preparation time: 65 minutes
Ingredients
- ½ violin pumpkin (approximately 1 kg)
- 1 garlic clove (or 1 teaspoon of garlic pasta)
- 1 teaspoon of fresh ginger (or ginger paste)
- 1/2 teaspoon of chilli or Chile in flakes
- 1 lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons of cream cheese (it can be light or vegan)
- 1 tablespoon of peanut paste or another dry fruit (hazelnut paste, almond, etc.)
- Chopped fresh parsley
- Lemon zest to decorate
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- Salt to taste
- Newly ground black pepper (optional)
How to make Hasselback pumpkin in 5 simple steps
- Preheat the oven at 180 ° C. Place the pumpkin between two sticks (such as sushi sticks) and make fine cuts along without reaching the bottom, using the sticks as a stop. Place the pumpkin on a baking sheet, sprinkle with olive oil and season with salt. Bake for 40-45 minutes until it is tender but still firm.
- While the pumpkin is baked, prepare the pasta: heat a pan over medium heat with a little olive oil. Add the chopped garlic and ginger, together with the chilli.
- Cook briefly until garlic is barely golden, preventing it from burning. Add the lemon juice and remove from heat.
- Mix the cream cheese with peanut paste until a soft consistency is obtained. This step is optional, but adds a creamy and tasty contrast to the plate.
- Remove the pumpkin from the oven and let cool slightly. Place a layer of cream cheese paste at the base of a plate and place the pumpkin on top. Spray with garlic, ginger and lemon dressing. Decorate with fresh parsley and lemon zest. Serve immediately.
