Smashed Pumpkin

It’s that special time of the year again, when America runs on pumpkin. The beloved vegetable that once fed New England’s starving settlers now serves as the multi-month gateway to the holidays. Some like pumpkin spiced in their latte’s, others likes it in their beer, or enjoy the smell wafting from candles. But I like pumpkin cooked over the fire, theatrically smashed with a shovel, and I think you’ll like it too.

Light your fire and let it burn down until you obtain a medium heat. Once you have hot coals, place the pumpkin directly amongst the coals, and shovel some coals on top of them. Cook your pumpkin for roughly 3 - 4 hours. Routinely turn the pumpkin as to ensure the heat is equally distributed. Cooking times vary depending on size of pumpkins and heat of the coals: it should take approximately 30 minutes for each pound of pumpkin.

When the pumpkin is thoroughly soft and the exterior is charred, prepare a surface for smashing. You can be creative here: potential surfaces for smashing include a tree stump, a split log, a cutting board, or the side of a cliff. Use the shovel to move the pumpkin from the coals to the smashing surface.

When ready for the big reveal, smash the pumpkin in one fowl swoop, to reveal the bright orange delicacy beneath the char. You will immediately know the pumpkin is undercooked if you cannot easily smash it with the back end of a shovel, in which case put the pumpkin back on the fire.

With a knife discard the top char and dress the pumpkin with the lemon tahini dressing. Sprinkle with herbs, and salt and pepper to taste.

Images by Corey Woosley

INGREDIENTS

Pumpkins

handful of fresh herbs and/or micro-greens

½ c tahini

⅔ to ¾ cups of water

juice of 1 lemon

2 garlic cloves minced

1 tablespoon olive oil

Freshly Ground Salt + Pepper to taste

TOOLS

Shovel

Pocket Knife

DIRECTIONS

1.) Light your fire and let it burn down until you obtain a medium heat. Once you have hot coals, place the pumpkin directly amongst the coals, and shovel some coals on top of them.

2.) Cook your pumpkin for roughly 3 - 4 hours. Routinely turn the pumpkin as to ensure the heat is equally distributed. Cooking times vary depending on size of pumpkins and heat of the coals: it should take approximately 30 minutes for each pound of pumpkin.

3.) While the pumpkin is cooking, enjoy a drink and prepare the dressing. Stir together the tahini, lemon juice, and olive oil. Beginning with ⅔ cup of water, gradually add more to reach the desired consistency. Makes 1 ⅓ c of dressing.

4.) When the pumpkin is thoroughly soft and the exterior is charred, prepare a surface for smashing. You can be creative here: potential surfaces for smashing include a tree stump, a split log, a cutting board, or the side of a cliff.

5.) Use the shovel to move the pumpkin from the coals to the smashing surface. When ready for the big reveal, smash the pumpkin in one fell swoop, to reveal the bright orange delicacy beneath the char. You will immediately know the pumpkin is undercooked if you cannot easily smash it with the back end of a shovel, in which case put the pumpkin back on the fire.

6.) With a knife discard the top char and dress the pumpkin with the lemon tahini dressing. Sprinkle with herbs, and salt and pepper to taste.

Edited by Eliana Arian

Wander Wisely,

Sofía