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The pumpkin has been nicknamed “the queen of autumn”. However it is a very much admired dessert in winter too. Since ancient times, the pumpkin has been the symbol of abundance, fertility, wellbeing and good health. As fresh fruit and vegetables start disappearing from the table with the arrival of winter, the pumpkin comes handy to replace them.

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In the first place, here comes the tikvenik, or pumpkin pie, a leading winter dessert in Bulgaria. It is made from sheets of pastry and a stuffing of grated pumpkin, walnuts and vegetable oil. For best results you’d better make your own pastry. The stuffing is rolled into the sheets; the rolled sheets are arranged in a pan and the pie is baked in a moderate oven.

Now here is a vegan pumpkin recipe. The pumpkin is deseeded its halves are filled with thoroughly washed dried fruit and nuts. Either honey or quince jelly are added to the mix. Then the dessert is baked until the pumpkin becomes golden.

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Some pumpkin soup will cleanse your system after too much eating during the holidays. To make it really nice you can use apart from boiled pumpkin, leeks in the first place, as well as courgettes, broccoli or potatoes. Everything is mashed together, and dill, dried coriander and tumeric are added. Or try with some curry to make it more exotic.

There is a lot more you can make from pumpkin. Go, experiment, as early as the first days of the New Year! And then, enjoy a healthy meal!

Translated by Daniela Konstantinova