The latest post in the Kürbisfest 2023 series.
Decided to try a new-to-me variety this year: The Pink Jumbo Banana. After explaining to a half-dozen people that it’s a “Sweet Potato Pumpkin!”, that name stuck in my head, so that’s why all the photos are labeled wrong. Our specimen was clearly not 30kg–closer to 2.
The shell is super-light and easy to cut through without injury.
But the shell had to be peeled away, and it was hard to get a good grip with my messed-up left hand. I used my serrated Spargel (asparagus) peeler. For two servings, I used half.
Following the directions from the farm where we purchase our pumpkins, I sliced it up and shoved it in the oven. Spalten is a word used for potato wedges, it’s the way I usually cut up a sweet potato. It can mean “fries”, but it is also used for sticks of vegetables that won’t crisp up on the outside due to the small amount of starch. I gave my sticks a nice marinade in olive oil, sweet paprika, powdered onion, and powered garlic.
I roasted the sticks in a shallow baking dish at 180°C for approximately 45 minutes (I wasn’t paying attention).
The sign lied: This pumpkin does not taste like sweet potatoes. It tastes like pumpkin. But the outside got a leeeeeetle bit crispy while the inside was soft without being mushy. Mr Radish thought they were “bland”, but was happier after dipping them in my homemade Jalapeño BBQ sauce.
January 2024
I’ll try something else with the second half.
