It is a happy period of the year when everybody has something delicious to put on the table! Pumpkins have dominated most of the kitchens and markets at this particular time of the year in Kasungu. I am so excited!

Pumpkins can be grown in the same field as other crops such as tobacco and maize, as most farmers already do, which makes it a very useful vegetable and an important part of the diet of most people in Kasungu. They are relatively easy to grow, only needing a little fertilizer or manure, and can be as heavy as 20 pounds!

Mothers prepare pumpkins as breakfast, lunch, and supper or even as a  take away food for parents working in the fields or children going to school. No part of the pumpkin is spared - pumpkin leaves are also eaten as relish served with nsima or rice. These households may not have much to eat but with pumpkins they are assured of a good meal that can take them throughout the day. It is very rare for one to find a family at this particular time of the year sleeping on an empty stomach.  They also provide important nutrients and energy for farmers, which is important at this busy time of the year when everyone is working hard at harvesting tobacco and maize.

Pumpkins are very simple to prepare and they don’t go bad easily. This makes pumpkins so perfect as most families in Kasungu are busy with tobacco plucking, drying, grading and packaging they find little time to prepare nsima which needs more attention and time. Often pumpkins are simply boiled whole and served in big wedges.

I prefer taking a boiled pumpkin with a cup of tea! What is your favourite pumpkin recipe?