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Pumpkin Pasticcio

17/11/2023

Pumpkin Pasticcio is a delicious dish typical of Italian cuisine, especially in the autumn period. We’ll prepare a classic version but remember, cooking is always a bit of art and a bit of alchemy, so don’t hesitate to add your personal touch to the preparation.

Ingredients

  • 500 g of cleaned pumpkin
  • 1 package of round or rectangular puff pastry
  • 100 g of ricotta
  • 50 g of grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 egg (plus one yolk for brushing)
  • Nutmeg to taste
  • Salt to taste
  • Pepper to taste
  • Butter to taste (for buttering the pan)

Preparation

  1. Start by preheating the oven to 180 °C.
  2. Cut the pumpkin into small cubes and cook it in the oven or boil it until it becomes soft. If you roast it in the oven, you might want to season it lightly with oil, salt, and a pinch of nutmeg.
  3. Once the pumpkin is cooked and soft, mash it with a fork or blend it to obtain a smooth cream.
  4. Mix the pumpkin cream with ricotta, grated Parmesan cheese, and the whole egg. Add salt, pepper, and a grating of nutmeg to your liking.
  5. Butter a pan and lay down the first layer of puff pastry, being careful to leave the outer edges free.
  6. Pour the pumpkin filling onto the puff pastry, spreading it evenly.
  7. Cover with the second layer of puff pastry and seal the edges well by pressing lightly with your fingers or the tines of a fork.
  8. Brush the surface of the pasticcio with a beaten egg yolk, to give a nice golden color once baked.
  9. Make some cuts on the surface of the pastry to allow moisture to escape during baking and to prevent it from puffing up too much.
  10. Bake the pasticcio for about 30-40 minutes or until the surface is golden brown and crispy.

For a truly Italian variation, you can add crumbled amaretti biscuits and fruit mustard to the filling to give it a more typical taste of the traditional northern Italian cuisine, especially from Mantua.

Curiosity

The term “pasticcio” in Italy can refer to various baked preparations involving the use of puff pastry or shortcrust pastry, with a filling that can be sweet or savory. The version with pumpkin is particularly appreciated during autumn when this vegetable is abundant and in season.

Pumpkin Pasticcio