Preheat the oven to 200° Celsius

Peel and cut the butternut lengthwise and deseed

Place cut side down onto a board and cut thin slices without cutting right through the bottom

Place into an ovenproof dish

Melt the butter until golden and brush some over the butternut and season generously

Place into the oven and bake for 45 minutes

Remove from the oven and gently open the slices ever so slightly

Brush over the rest of the butter, season again and press in the bay leaves - 2 into each butternut, apart from each other

Sprinkle the pumpkin seeds over the butternut and return to the oven

Bake for a further 15 minutes and then serve