Eastern Motifs: Preparing a Turkish Dessert from Pumpkin 0 9

List of Ingredients:

• peeled pumpkin flesh — one kilogram;

• sugar — 200 grams;

• tahini;

• a handful of walnuts;

• cream for serving.

First, the pumpkin is peeled and seeds removed, then cut into cubes the size of a matchbox. A little sugar is sprinkled on the bottom of the pot, a layer of pumpkin is placed on top, and the remaining sugar is sprinkled over to cover all the pieces. The prepared mixture is left for at least two hours (or overnight). During this time, the pumpkin should release a lot of juice, and the sugar should almost completely dissolve.

The dessert is cooked without adding water — only in its own pumpkin juice. The pot is placed on the lowest heat, brought to a boil, and cooked for 40–60 minutes. During this time, the pumpkin is not stirred. Doneness is determined by the softness of the pumpkin and the thickening of the syrup.

After cooking, the dessert is allowed to cool completely in the pot. It is recommended to serve it cold. The cooled pumpkin pieces are arranged on plates, drizzled with tahini, sprinkled with chopped walnuts, and optionally topped with thick cream.