Mark Hix’s recipe for roast pumpkin and pickled walnut salad
I try to grow a few varieties of squash every season, but in the past couple of years the results have more or less failed me.I originally put that down to the lack of time and attention I’d given those poor plants, but I’m now starting to wonder if the soil in my raised garden beds overlooking Lyme Bay in Dorset is actually right for them.I’m not giving up just yet, though, and this year I’ll be trying different varieties in a different bed that I’ve prepared and composted over the winter with seaweed mulch.As luck would have it, however, my friend Rob Corbett came to the rescue a couple of weeks ago by giving me several specimens when he delivered some wine from his Castlewood vineyard a few miles away in east Devon.If you know your gourds even a little, you will also know that squashes keep for months, which is handy, because they ideally need to cure and ripen before use.
Happily, that also means you can use your crop throughout the long winter months.I suppose that when you grow your own squashes and pumpkins, you potentially get stuck for what to do with them, but the possibilities are almost endless – for example, I recently made a cheesecake topped with a sweet squash relish, as well as a chocolate and pumpkin pie that’s a bit more appealing than the classic American version; I even made a squash cocktail with a new, Kentish version of the classic Italian walnut liqueur, nocino, made by Pleasant Land Distillery in Aldington, just outside Ashford.As the base, I used some of the skins, seeds and trimmings left over from making a squash risotto, and added some mezcal to the mix, too – as odd as that might sound, it was really quite delicious.Buying a squash can be a little daunting, especially to the uninitiated, because some of the nice orange ones, such as crown prince and sunshine, are often huge and heavy, and definitely won’t fit into your shopping basket.I suspect that’s why so many shops and supermarkets sell mainly butternut, which is kind of the size of a large swede and will easily go in a shopping bag.
Mediterranean and Turkish supermarkets have the right idea, though, because they often sell those nice big squashes in manageable, ready-cut wedges, an added bonus of which is that you can easily see what the flesh is like inside – not to mention how much skin and seeds you’re being expected to pay for.I’ve used a fair amount of squash in today’s recipe for a colourful winter salad, both roasted and shaved, which brings a lovely contrast in textures and flavours to proceedings.I used crown prince, because I had one that was ripe and ready to go, but any ripe, orange-fleshed squash, or a mixture of squashes, would work well.If you like, top the salad with a scattering of toasted reserved pumpkin seeds, or even chop some up and add them to the dressing for a bit of extra crunch.Serves 4 as a side2 tbsp rapeseed oil, or olive oil400g ripe, orange squash flesh (crown prince, sunshine or butternut), peeled and deseededSalt and black pepper A couple of handfuls small salad leaves, washed and driedA few sprigs of fresh tarragon, leaves picked (optional)4 pickled walnuts, drained (save the liquid) and cut into 1cm diceFor the dressing1 tbsp cider vinegar 1 tbsp pickled walnut liquor from the jar 3-4 tbsp rapeseed oil, or pumpkin seed oilToasted pumpkin seeds, whole or chopped, to finish (optional)Heat the oven to 200C (180C fan)/390F/gas 6.
Put the oil on a roasting tray and stick it in the oven to heat up,With a vegetable peeler or on a mandoline, shave a third of the squash flesh into ribbons, put them in a bowl of iced water and put in the fridge until needed – they will curl up a little while chilling,Cut the rest of the squash into wedges or rough chunks,Season the squash chunks, then carefully toss them in the hot oil and roast for about 30 minutes, turning once halfway, until tender and lightly coloured all over,Meanwhile, drain and dry the shaved squash, then mix with the salad leaves, tarragon and pickled walnuts.
In a small bowl, whisk all the ingredients for the dressing with any leftover oil from the squash roasting tray, then season to taste.Arrange everything in a large bowl or plate, or on individual plates, then spoon over the dressing and serve, perhaps topped with a few toasted pumpkin seeds.Mark Hix is a restaurateur and writer based in Lyme Regis, Dorset.His latest limited-edition book, Fishy Tales, with illustrations by Nettie Wakefield, is published at £90.
Game On: the Swiss sports brand using hi-tech and chutzpah to challenge Nike and Adidas
A robot leg whirs around in a complex ballet as an almost invisible spray of “flying fibre” builds a hi-tech £300 sports shoe at its foot.This nearly entirely automated process – like a sci-fi future brought to life – is part of the gameplan from On, the Swiss sports brand that is taking on the sector’s mighty champions Nike and Adidas with a mix of technology and chutzpah.The brand is expanding rapidly after teaming up with the former tennis pro Roger Federer to create shoes suitable for the Swiss star’s sport and a mix of fashion-led collaborations including with the luxury brand LOEWE, actor Zendaya and singers FKA twigs and Burna Boy. In China, sales have doubled year-on-year. Growth has been strong in the US and mainland Europe and this month On will open its fourth London store, in Kensington
Trump move for Venezuela’s resources likely to weaken economic might of US | Heather Stewart
The word “loot” entered the English language from Hindi in the late 18th century, as the rapacious East India Company plundered its way across the subcontinent.It was a trading company, not a state – but it had the imprimatur of the English crown and its own large private army, mingling commerce and military force and opening the way for British imperial dominance of India.Donald Trump’s dead-of-night raid on Venezuela last week was the act of a government, not a corporation. But it harked back to a more brazen age, when looting a continent for its resources at the point of a cannon was regarded as a legitimate activity for an English gentleman.The US president made no effort to disguise the fact that the main motivation for the snatching of Nicolás Maduro was taking control of Venezuelan oil reserves on behalf of the fossil fuel companies that helped bankroll Trump’s re-election
Behind the Somali daycare panic is a mother-and-son duo angling to be top Maga influencers
YouTube influencer Nick Shirley, whose viral video alleging fraud by daycare centers servicing Minneapolis’s Somali American community came days ahead of the Trump administration’s declaration of a national funding freeze, has for years published conspiracy-minded takes on hot-button rightwing issues.The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more.He also has close ties to the White House, Republicans, and to representatives of an earlier generation of rightwing partisan “ambush journalists” such as James O’Keefe
Elon Musk’s X threatened with UK ban over wave of indecent AI images
Elon Musk’s X has been ordered by the UK government to tackle a wave of indecent AI images or face a de facto ban, as an expert said the platform was no longer a “safe space” for women.The media watchdog, Ofcom, confirmed it would accelerate an investigation into X as a backlash grew against the site, which has hosted a deluge of images depicting partially stripped women and children.X announced a restriction on creating images via the Grok AI tool on Friday morning in response to the global outcry. A post on the platform said the ability to generate and edit images would now be “limited to paying subscribers”. Those who pay have to provide personal details, meaning they could be identified if the function was misused
Ashes calamity has trashed McCullum’s credibility. It’s time to call on Alec Stewart | Mark Ramprakash
The curtain came down on the Ashes in Sydney with England again being outplayed in the basics of the game. But it is one thing to have a weak team, and another to have a talented one that just looks muddled.I was very optimistic going into the series because England had a quality group of players, many of them in their 20s – in my opinion their peak years – who had played a lot of international cricket together, come through a tough series against India, and appeared to have matured their approach, adding nuance and adaptability, evolving from their old one-size-fits-all swagger. Well, high expectations can be dangerous because if things don’t work out the disappointment is all the more profound.So I look at the wreckage of this series and all those high hopes and ask myself, did this management group – Rob Key, Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes – give the England squad the best chance of success? They all seem to be bullish that they can carry on and of the three it is hard to argue that Stokes should not: he’s the obvious leader in the group and there are not many other candidates
Jess Hull steers Australia to relay gold at world cross-country championships in US
The Olympic medalist Jess Hull has steered a star-studded Australian quartet to a mighty relay win at the world athletics cross-country championships in Florida.Ollie Hoare, Linden Hall, Jack Anstey and Hull took charge to claim gold in the 4x2000m mixed relay in Tallahassee on Saturday.It Australia’s fifth medal in the 46-edition history of the championships.The team clocked a time of 22min 23sec to win by three seconds ahead of France, followed by Ethiopia (22min 34sec), Kenya (22min 42sec) and the US (22min 43sec) among 15 teams.Hoare put the Australians in contention in the opening leg before Hall opened a lead of six seconds then Anstey consolidated and Hull commanded the anchor leg
‘People think abuse comes with working in A&E. It shouldn’t be like that’
Parents of critically ill children ‘crushed’ by lack of support, say campaigners
‘It restored my hope’: the five charities at the heart of the Guardian’s 2025 appeal
‘You feel violated’: how stalkers outsource abuse to private investigators
Calls for SMA screening ignored before Jesy Nelson campaign, say families
How common is violence against NHS staff in England and what is being done to stop it?