PUMPKIN

Intelligent eaters see more in the pumpkin than something to carve and candle-light for Halloween! This vegetable, which you can hardly miss in the Fen fields at this time of year, is in the same family as the cucumber and the courgette. There are around 100 different varieties, although you're unlikely to find pumpkins sold by name. Although the supermarkets' marketing strategy might lead you to believe that there's a short season of a couple of weeks in late October, pumpkins are available from mid-August and properly cared for they'll keep for up to six months. 'Properly cared for' only applies if you're growing your own: most varieties grow on trailing vines that spread rapidly -- when the vine begins to wither, the pumpkin is ready to harvest, but should be left outside for a couple of days to harden the skin.

There are recipes for sweet pumpkin marmalade (actually chutney) and pumpkin, cumin and chili soup on or website, but roasted pumpkin is a wonderful vegetable. The seeds can also be dried and roasted as an unbelievably nutritious snack.

BACK TO FEN FOOD MASTER PAGE >>