Turkish Poached Pumpkin Dessert

1. Put the pumpkin into a heavy-bottomed pot. Sprinkle on the sugar. Don’t stir, as you want some of the sugar to remain on top. Put the pot on medium-low heat.

2. After a few minutes, you will see that the pumpkin has released some water. Cover and cook for 30 minutes.

3. After 30 minutes, taste a piece. It won’t be cooked yet, but you need to check for sweetness. Pumpkins have varying levels of sugar, so if the dessert is not sweet enough to your taste, gently stir in a few more tablespoons of sugar. Cover and continue cooking for another 10-15 minutes, until the pumpkin is tender when pierced with a fork. Transfer the pumpkin to a serving dish, leaving behind any liquid that may still be in the pot, and let cool completely.

4. Serve with a generous sprinkling of walnuts and a dollop of kaymak or Turkish clotted cream on the side.