Pumpkin and Grana Padano PDO Bites with a Negroni
Difficulty Easy
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Preparation  50 min
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Servings for  4 per.
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Pumpkin bites are a delicious autumn appetiser, loved for their soft texture and subtly sweet flavour. In this recipe, the pumpkin is complemented by the rich, savoury flavour of Grana Padano PDO and paired with a classic Negroni, creating a beautifully balanced combination of mellow, aromatic and slightly bitter notes.
Ingredients
500g prepared pumpkin
130g grated Grana Padano PDO
130g breadcrumbs
1 medium egg
1 garlic clove
1 sprig fresh rosemary, or a few fresh sage leaves
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Nutmeg, to taste
Extra virgin olive oil, for brushing
Fried sage leaves, to serve
Method
Preheat the oven to 180°C. Cut the pumpkin into cubes and roast for around 25 minutes, or until tender. Leave to cool slightly, then mash with a fork, draining away any excess liquid.
Transfer the mashed pumpkin to a bowl and add the grated Grana Padano PDO, breadcrumbs, egg, finely chopped garlic and chopped rosemary or sage. Season with salt, freshly ground black pepper and a little grated nutmeg.
Mix until you have a firm mixture that holds its shape. If necessary, add a little more breadcrumbs.
Shape the mixture into small, evenly sized bites and arrange them on a baking tray lined with baking parchment. Brush lightly with extra virgin olive oil.
Bake at 180°C for around 20–25 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden brown.
Serve the pumpkin bites with a few fried sage leaves and, if desired, an extra sprinkling of grated Grana Padano PDO.
Ingredients
120ml gin
120ml Italian bitter aperitif
120ml red vermouth
4 orange slices
Ice
Method
Fill four short tumblers generously with ice. Pour equal measures of gin, Italian bitter aperitif and red vermouth into each glass.
Stir gently with a bar spoon and garnish each cocktail with a slice of orange. Serve immediately alongside the pumpkin bites.
These pumpkin and Grana Padano PDO bites are the perfect accompaniment to a Negroni for an autumn aperitif, an informal dinner or a relaxed buffet with friends. The rich, savoury flavour of Grana Padano PDO and the natural sweetness of the pumpkin are beautifully balanced by the aromatic, bittersweet notes of the cocktail, creating a distinctive pairing full of character.
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