Carve Out Time To Try These Pumpkin Recipes This Halloween

Pumpkin And Leek Soup With Fried Sage Leaves

• One 3-pound sugar pumpkin or winter squash
• 2 medium leeks
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
• Sea salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 4 cups vegetable or chicken stock

• 1/2 cup heavy cream, crème fraîche or plain Greek yogurt
• 8 fresh sage leaves

1. Cut the pumpkin in half and remove seeds and stringy sections. Then, using a wide peeler or sharp knife, remove the rind. Cut the pumpkin in half and remove the seeds and stringy sections. Cut the peeled flesh into 1 1/2-inch cubes.
2. Trim off the dark-green section of the leeks and save for making stock. Halve the pale-green and white sections lengthwise, rinse under cold running water and pat dry. Cut crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces.
3. Heat the oil in a large soup pot over low heat. Add the leeks and half the thyme and sage, salt and pepper and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Add the pumpkin cubes and cook, stirring for another 5 minutes. Add the remaining herbs and raise the heat to high. Add the stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, partially cover, and cook about 15 to 20 minutes or until the pumpkin is fork tender. Remove from heat.
4. Using an immersion blender or blender, puree the soup and return to the soup pot. Season to taste. The soup can be made several days ahead of time; cover and keep in the refrigerator or freeze for up to 2 months.
5. Reheat over low heat and taste for seasoning. Serve hot with a touch of cream stirred into the soup and one or two fried sage leaves on top.

Fried Sage Leaves

• About 16 fresh sage leaves
• 2 cups olive or safflower oil (or a combination of both)
• Coarse sea salt (like Maldon) or sea salt

1. Carefully snip off the short, thin stems from the main stems of the sage, leaving the leaves attached, and set aside.
2. In a heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat, warm the oil until it just begins to smoke. Using tongs, very carefully lower the herbs into the hot oil, adding only a few at a time to avoid crowding the skillet and thereby lower the temperature of the oil. (The oil is hot enough when the sage leaves immediately begin to sizzle.) Fry the leaves for about 15 seconds, then carefully flip them and fry for another 15 seconds, or until they are beginning to turn golden brown.
3. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the leaves as they finish frying and drain on paper towels or on a clean brown grocery bag. Season with salt. Don't fry the sage leaves more than 15 minutes ahead of serving them, or they will wilt.

Gingersnap And Pumpkin Pudding

• 1 1/2 cups ground gingersnaps*
• 5 tablespoons melted butter
• One 15-ounce can organic pumpkin puree
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup milk
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 2 eggs
• Whipped cream, for garnish
• 2 tablespoons very thinly sliced crystallized ginger, for garnish (optional)

1. Make the gingersnap crust: Heat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix the ground gingersnaps and butter in a small bowl. Press into the bottom of eight small 1/2-cup ramekins or small 1/2-cup Mason jars. Bake in the heated oven for 10 minutes; remove and cool.
3. Make the pudding: In a medium saucepan whisk together the pumpkin, sugar, maple syrup, ginger, allspice, cinnamon and salt. Add the milk and cream and eggs and whisk to totally incorporate all the ingredients. Place over low heat until gently bubbling. Pour the pudding on top of the cooled crusts and bake on the middle shelf for 30 minutes; the pudding should still wiggle a bit when you gently shake it but it should also look set.
4. Serve warm or refrigerate for at least 3 to 4 hours. Serve topped with whipped cream and slivers of ginger, if desired.

Pumpkin Risotto

• About 5 cups vegetable or chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup finely chopped leeks, shallots or onions
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup Arborio rice
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1 cup pumpkin chunks, cut into 1/4-inch pieces* or 1 cup organic pumpkin puree
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Fried sage leaves, recipe above (optional)

1. In a saucepan bring the stock to a gentle simmer.
2. In a heavy-bottomed medium saucepan, heat the butter and oil over low heat until the butter is melted. Add the leeks and garlic, salt and pepper and cook for 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the rice, making sure to coat the rice with the leeks. Raise the heat to high and add the wine; let cook for about 3 minutes or until the wine has almost evaporated.
3. Reduce the heat to moderately low and add the pumpkin chunks and stir in 1/2 cup of the hot stock. Stir until the liquid is almost absorbed. Add another 1/2 cup stock until almost absorbed. Repeat until you have used all the stock and the rice is almost tender. (You want the risotto to still have a bite like al dente pasta.) Taste for seasoning, adding more salt and pepper as needed. The pumpkin pieces should be very tender.
4. Remove from the heat and add 1/2 cup of the cheese. Risotto is always best served immediately. Serve hot, topped with fried sage leaves, if desired, and the remaining grated cheese.