What to Cook for Halloween? 5 Pumpkin First Courses to Try

Have you already thought about what to cook for Halloween? Among carved pumpkins, decorations, and spooky atmospheres, there’s one ingredient that deserves a special place on the plate too! With its orange color and natural sweetness, pumpkin is the undisputed star of fall and can turn even a simple first course into something special. If you want to prepare a themed menu without giving up flavor, let yourself be inspired by these 5 pumpkin recipes, all worth trying!

Pasta with pumpkin and sausage is one of those first courses that makes you love fall even more! The secret to its goodness lies in the contrast between the sweetness of the pumpkin and the bold flavor of well-browned sausage. As it cooks, the pumpkin turns into a soft, enveloping cream, enriched with Parmigiano Reggiano and the aroma of rosemary, coating every tortiglione. A rich, creamy, and flavorful dish to bring to the table when you’re craving pasta that truly tastes like home!

Pumpkin and gorgonzola risotto is a first course that captures all the flavor of fall in a truly special meeting of tastes and textures! The delicate sweetness of the pumpkin joins the bold character of gorgonzola, which melts during the final creaming step, making the risotto incredibly creamy and enveloping. The finishing touch? A few sprigs of fresh rosemary that add a pleasant aromatic note. A warm-colored, inviting dish that can turn even a simple family dinner into a special occasion.

No-knead pumpkin gnocchi are a clever idea for bringing all the goodness of homemade gnocchi to the table without having to work the dough on a pastry board! The sweet, delicate pumpkin combines with ricotta and Parmigiano to create a soft mixture that, thanks to a pastry bag, turns directly into small gnocchi to drop into boiling water. Making them even more inviting is the rosemary-scented brown butter sauce, which wraps every bite in its intense aroma.

Lasagna with pumpkin is a triumph of creaminess and fall flavors, with a filling that will make you want to dig in with your fork right away! Between the pasta sheets, soft cubes of pumpkin alternate with velvety béchamel, mozzarella, and smoked scamorza, which adds a more intense note of flavor. Everything is enriched with Grana Padano and the aroma of herbs, with a beautifully golden surface after baking. A rich, cheesy first course to share during a special lunch or a Halloween dinner!

Creamy pumpkin and potato soup is one of those dishes that immediately brings fall evenings to mind, when you’re craving something warm and comforting! The sweetness of the pumpkin meets the delicacy of the potatoes, creating a smooth, silky cream, enriched with the aroma of thyme and a pat of butter that makes it even more velvety. What makes the difference are the golden, crunchy bread croutons, flavored with garlic and thyme, which create a pleasant contrast with every spoonful.