Organic fruit has natural taste that canned filling can't match
Local pumpkins share a similar flavour and texture to some of their popular American cousins. The local version is great for making a classic pumpkin pie.
Josh Chu, executive chef of Posto Pubblico, uses local farm-grown organic Chinese pumpkin in this healthier version of the treat, instead of canned pie filling. 'There is really no comparison. The canned filling is so full of artificial flavour enhancers and added sugar that, when tasted side by side, it doesn't even taste like real pumpkin,' he says.
The base is made with whole wheat flour rather than the usual refined white. 'It is rich in dietary fibre and manganese, which is great for people who are on diets and can prevent diabetes,' Chu says.
He uses full fat cream to get the traditional texture of pumpkin pie, but it can be replaced with skimmed milk or even water. 'This particular recipe is special because it's healthy and diet-friendly, but it tastes just like what Mama used to make,' he says.
Pumpkin pie
For the crust