Blue Book: Perfect pumpkins

While we mainly associate pumpkins with Halloween – carving faces into them, and turning them into ghoulish lanterns – they are also a delicious and versatile ingredient. Here are three recipes to try

Risotto with pumpkin and rosemary butter from Darina Allen at Ballymaloe House in Shanagarry, Co Cork

Ingredients, serves four

300g pumpkin

2 onions, finely chopped

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Sea salt and freshly ground pepper

1-2 tbsp rosemary, freshly chopped

50g Parmigiano-Reggiano, freshly grated

50g butter

400g risotto rice

1-1.3 litres chicken stock

Method

1. Peel the pumpkin, remove the seeds and fibres, and cut into small cubes.

2. Fry one onion ...