It seems this month, the vegetables are taking centerstage at Kitchen Therapy. I get bouts of thoughts and random cravings, and I feel like exploring the potential of each unique vegetable and dissect it into layers.
This is what I’m doing to the pumpkin – a vegetable that can evoke many emotions.
As a kid, I associated the pumpkin with a witch’s hat and broomstick. It was very late in life that I even touched one – and that too in the form of a delicious ravioli, tossed in a simple, no fuss butter and sage sauce. From then on, it was no turning back. I discovered that a simple balsamic glazed pumpkin in a salad does wonders with a salty cheese and caramelized nuts, but pureed into a sweet pie is even better. Occasionally tossed in garam masala, the pumpkin tastes good with hot phulkas and ghee!
This recipe is inspired by a sudden urge for potatoes in a rich creamy sauce. For a surprising moment of sensibility, I reached out for the pumpkin instead of the potato, but it was short-lasted, before I grabbed the bottle of cream… you know ‘diet, but in moderation’ and all that… so, it’s still oozing with delicious creamy cheesy richness, but with the delicate notes of thyme, nutmeg and pepper. I like a little smattering of breadcrumbs on top for a bit of crunch, but that’s personal.
So go ahead, make these in individual ramekins for 6, or if you have my kind of appetite, then count enough for just 3… just saying it as is!
Bon appetit!
The Recipe
Serves 6
Ingredients
- 400g Thinly Sliced Pumpkin
- 100ml Milk
- 100ml Cream
- 1/2 cup Shredded Cheese
- 2 tsp Minced Garlic
- A Pinch Nutmeg
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
- Extra Cheese For Top
- Handful Of Breadcrumbs
- Oil For Greasing
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200C.
- Grease the ramekins with a silicon brush.
- Whisk the milk, cream, cheese, garlic, salt, pepper, nutmeg and thyme together.
- Add a spoon of the cream sauce to the base of the ramekins, then a layer of pumpkin slices, followed by another spoon of cream sauce and repeat.
- Continue repeating this step until you reach almost the top of the dish, ending with the cream sauce.
- Sprinkle some extra cheese on top, followed by the breadcrumbs.
- Bake for at least 25 to 30 minutes.
- Serve hot.
