Autumn means harvest, Hallowe'en, comforting food and pumpkins. In Tuscany, the main foods of the season are mushrooms, chestnuts and truffles and there are even festivals to celebrate these favourites! More and more, Italy celebrates Hallowe'en and, if you combine this with the famous pumpkins from the Arno Valley area – you get a match made in heaven (or, given the season, should we say hell?)! This Tuscan pumpkin variety is called “zucca lardaia”. Pumpkin was first brought to Europe by Spanish settlers and it is normally only a commonplace ingredient in traditional dishes in northern Italy.
However, these pumpkins are just the thing to add an interesting kick to some hearty and delicious dishes and soups, in particular. As it is a very sweet flavour it is usually combined with strong flavoured ingredients such as onion, herbs and rosemary in Tuscany and this recipe does just that: making use of the seasonal mushrooms and adding a touch of sweetness of the pumpkins, it is all kept in check by the strong presence of the onion and rosemary. Find a luxury villa in the Arno Valley and hunt down their local pumpkins and, in the meantime, try out the recipe with your own varieties while you plan your Autumn getaway. Read More
However, these pumpkins are just the thing to add an interesting kick to some hearty and delicious dishes and soups, in particular. As it is a very sweet flavour it is usually combined with strong flavoured ingredients such as onion, herbs and rosemary in Tuscany and this recipe does just that: making use of the seasonal mushrooms and adding a touch of sweetness of the pumpkins, it is all kept in check by the strong presence of the onion and rosemary. Find a luxury villa in the Arno Valley and hunt down their local pumpkins and, in the meantime, try out the recipe with your own varieties while you plan your Autumn getaway. Read More
