Roasted Pumpkin and Brynza Spread

Ingredients

• 150 g roasted pumpkin
• 80–100 g of brynza
• 100 g of soft cottage cheese
• 1–2 tablespoons of sour cream
• 1 clove of roasted garlic
• 1 teaspoon of pumpkin seed oil
• a few drops of lemon juice
• freshly ground pepper
• salt to taste

For serving:

• roasted pumpkin seeds
• pretzels
• a little pumpkin seed oil to finish it off

Method

1. If you haven't prepared the pumpkin in advance, cut it into small cubes, drizzle lightly with olive oil, and bake until tender and golden brown. It will take about 20–25 minutes in the oven at 200 °C, or about 15–20 minutes in a convection air fryer. You can also roast an unpeeled clove of garlic along with the pumpkin.
2. Set aside a few cubes of roasted pumpkin for the finishing touches. Mash the rest with a fork or briefly blend it with brynza, cottage cheese, sour cream, and roasted garlic.
3. Add a teaspoon of pumpkin seed oil, freshly ground pepper, and a few drops of lemon juice. Mix everything together and adjust the consistency with more sour cream as needed.
4. Use salt sparingly, as brynza is already quite strong and salty on its own.
5. Transfer the finished spread to a bowl. Top with the reserved diced roasted pumpkin, drizzle with a little pumpkin oil, and sprinkle with toasted pumpkin seeds.
6. Serve with sourdough bread, crispy toast, fresh pastries, or savory breadsticks.

Serving and Styling Tips

• Serve the spread in a shallow ceramic bowl, which will better highlight its color and decoration.
• Do not smooth the surface completely. Use the back of a spoon to create gentle ripples, and drizzle pumpkin seed oil into the indentations.
• Set aside a few roasted pumpkin cubes and place them on top. This will make the spread look more colorful and give it a more interesting texture.
• Add the toasted pumpkin seeds, freshly ground pepper, and, if desired, a few thyme leaves or other small herbs.
• For a more striking contrast, use dark green, brown, or cream-colored ceramics. The orange color of the pumpkin will stand out beautifully against them.
• Don't arrange the bread items too neatly. Arrange the toast, pretzels, or toasted tortilla triangles loosely next to the bowl, or place them in a small glass.
• When taking photos, use soft side lighting and preserve the natural shadows. Add the pumpkin oil just before taking the photos so that it remains glossy.
• You can complete the look with a linen napkin, a few pumpkin seeds, or a small piece of fresh pumpkin. But use only a few decorations so that the spread remains the star of the show.