6 SECRETS TO RECOGNIZE A GOOD PUMPKIN
Pumpkin and autumn: the perfect combination.
They are the perfect combination not only because they are characterized by the same colors but because when autumn arrives the pumpkin becomes a cuddle... a big hug that warms and colors the rainy and gray days.
You should know that in Mantua, the city where I was born, pumpkin can never be missing... not only is it a fundamental ingredient for its famous "Tortelli" but above all one of the symbolic products of the local countryside.
There are a lot of varieties but my favorite is DELICA.
I like it because it is sweet and has a firm, compact pulp. It is a versatile pumpkin and thanks to this characteristic I can have fun creating delicious appetizers, tasty first courses, side dishes but also desserts.
But how to choose a good pumpkin?
I want to reveal to you the 6 secrets that my nonna taught me and which help me choose the perfect pumpkin for my creations.
CHECK THE COLOR OF THE SKIN: The Delica pumpkin is characterized by a green skin. A good pumpkin begins to be ripe and good when the green of the skin begins to darken, lose its shine and thus become opaque.
CHECK THE PEEL: The peel should feel hard to the touch. If you want, and you can, do a little test: try scratching the peel with your nails, if you can't or do it with difficulty this is a good sign.
CHECK THE PETIOLE: It's the extreme part that connects to the plant. A good pumpkin should have a dry stem, as if it were a piece of wood.
CHECK THE SHAPE: The Delica pumpkin must have a round and flattened shape.
CHECK THE CONSISTENCY: Place a finger on the peel and apply a little pressure. If the pumpkin indents a little it means that it isn't yet ripe or was picked ahead of time, but if it encounters resistance and maintains its solid structure, it means that the pumpkin is ready.
CHECK THE SOUND: Tap the pumpkin on the bottom. If it emits a harmonious sound, it means that the nutrients have been completely absorbed and the pumpkin is ready to be eaten. Otherwise, if there is a dull sound, it would be better to wait.
I hope these tips can be useful for choosing the perfect pumpkin for your creations as soon as you go shopping or check the pumpkins in your garden...
Because only by choosing good ingredients will our recipes naturally explode with taste and flavours.
See you soon.
