Stuffed Pumpkin

Dad Joke Alert: 

Slipped on a pumpkin today - it caught me off-gourd

I saw a well-priced pumpkin at the local shop, and decided that today will be the day when I do something more exciting with pumpkin than merely roasting it. It was time to stuff a pumpkin!

What you need:

1 whole pumpkin - I chose a small one,  about half a soccer ball sized, and it was more than enough for 6 people

1 tablespoon each of dried thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika

2 tablespoons of minced garlic

1 teaspoon of tomato paste

Salt and pepper to taste

1 glass of white wine, the rest is known as the Chef's privilege :-) - after all, cooking is thirsty work

500g mince

1 cup of white rice 

2 cups of chicken stock

Half a bunch of shredded spinach

2 chopped onions

1 punnet of mushrooms, chopped  

What to do:

Cut the "lid" off the pumpkin and hollow it out. See the note about the seeds

In a pot, cook the rice in the chicken stock, drain and keep aside

In a frying pan - Fry the mushrooms and onions in olive oil. Remove and set aside

Fry the mince with the herbs

When brown, add the tomato paste and cook for a minute

Add in the glass of wine

Season to taste

Stir while enjoying your share of the wine

Wilt the spinach in the pot with a tiny bit of water, remove and drain.

In a big bowl, mix the mince, onions and mushrooms, rice and wilted spinach

Scoop carefully into the pumpkin, while pushing down with a spoon to compact

Replace lid, brush the sides and top with oil

On the braai - make a tinfoil ring to hold the pumpkin upright

Turn off middle burners, and set side burners on 1/4

You are aiming for 180*C  (on the braai or in the oven)

Cook for about an hour and prod with a kebab stick, bigger pumpkins may need longer

The flesh will feel soft like a roasted potato when done

Remove from the heat, rest for 10 minutes, then slice 

Admire your handiwork, chomp and enjoy!

Score: 8/10 golden spatulas 

Puppy paw of approval:  ✅ Only for her share of mince - please don't give your furbaby any of the rest

Teen nod of acknowledgment:✅ 

Family verdict: ✅ Burp

Notes:

Roasted pumpkin seeds are a fantastic snack - wash the gunk off and dry them

Mix with a touch of oil, salt, pepper, paprika and garlic powder, and roast at 90-100*C for about 15 minutes. Stir often, and watch for burning

Stuffed pumpkin is a great and unusual side dish for almost any meat

For a vegetarian option - omit the mince and up the quantities of the onions, mushrooms and spinach. Use veg stock for the rice

For a non-alcoholic version, use chicken stock instead of wine