Late summer and early fall is harvesting time for pumpkins. Indeed they are everywhere around Halloween time, and not just for jack-o-lanterns. Cooking with pumpkin can be a rewarding experience for any home cook, and even restaurant goers will enjoy professional chefs’ creations with the iconic taste of fall. Pumpkin is as versatile in cooking as its wine pairings are. Some great ways to prepare a hearty meal with pumpkin include making a blended soup with cooked pumpkin and spices. Recipes like this often need chicken stock in them for best flavor, making it a perfect match with a dry chardonnay. A more adventurous way to prepare pumpkin though taps into its international roots. While a classic fall taste in America, pumpkin enjoys a rich history in Asia and India. Tap into this by making a pumpkin and pork stir fry or curry. The pork goes great with the pumpkin and a glass of pinot noir.
Embrace local produce as soon as the pumpkins start appearing. The fall squash is easy to cook with and can soak up flavors from ginger and pork to cinnamon and pastry. Not to mention hauling around heavy little pumpkins and full six bottle wine bags may keep away the winter weight gain for a while longer.
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