Best 12 Stuffed Pumpkin Dinner Recipes

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Welcome to the world of culinary delights, where flavors dance on your palate and aromas fill the air with anticipation. In this article, we embark on a journey to discover the secrets of creating a stuffed pumpkin dinner that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving for more. We'll guide you through the steps of choosing the perfect pumpkin, selecting the finest ingredients, and crafting a savory filling that will perfectly complement the sweet and nutty flavor of the pumpkin. Get ready to indulge in a feast for the senses as we explore the art of crafting the perfect stuffed pumpkin dinner.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

SAVORY STUFFED PUMPKIN



Savory Stuffed Pumpkin image

"As soon as pumpkins are available in October, I stock up on them for making this special dish," pens Patricia Sacheck from her family's ranch outside Wasilla, Alaska. "The beefy mixture is filling and tastes good the next day - that is, if there are any leftovers!"

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 2h

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 10

1-1/2 pounds ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1 jar (4-1/2 ounces) sliced mushrooms
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1-1/2 cups cooked rice
1 can (8 ounces) sliced water chestnuts, drained
1 large pumpkin (8 to 9 pounds)
Canola oil

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°. In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the soup, mushrooms, soy sauce and brown sugar. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the rice and water chestnuts. , Wash pumpkin; cut a 6-in. circle around stem. Remove top and set aside. Discard seeds and loose fibers from the inside. Spoon beef mixture into pumpkin; replace top. , Place in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Rub oil over outside of pumpkin. Bake, uncovered, until pumpkin is tender, 1-1/2 hours. Scoop out some pumpkin with each serving of beef mixture.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 435 calories, Fat 13g fat (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 58mg cholesterol, Sodium 982mg sodium, Carbohydrate 55g carbohydrate (13g sugars, Fiber 5g fiber), Protein 28g protein.

CHEESE-STUFFED PUMPKIN SLICES



Cheese-Stuffed Pumpkin Slices image

Fresh mozzarella melted between roasted pumpkin and topped with Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Provided by ItalianTapas

Categories     Side Dish     Vegetables     Squash

Time 1h5m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
1 (5 pound) pumpkin
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
6 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves stripped, or more to taste
sea salt and ground black pepper to taste
4 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese
2 ounces grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and grease with butter.
  • Cut the top of the pumpkin off with a large knife and remove all the seeds and pulp. Cut pumpkin into 3- to 4-inch wide segments. Remove skin of pumpkin with a potato peeler or paring knife. Cut into the pumpkin segments with a 2 1/2-inch cookie cutter to make cylinders. Cut cylinders into 1/4-inch slices.
  • Place pumpkin slices on the prepared baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil; sprinkle with thyme leaves from 5 sprigs, sea salt, and pepper. Cover with another piece of foil.
  • Roast in the preheated oven until softened, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool for 5 minutes. Leave the oven on.
  • Slice mozzarella cheese into 1/4-inch wide pieces and place in between 2 slices of pumpkin. Repeat with remaining pumpkin slices. Top each with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.
  • Return to the oven and continue to roast until cheese melts, about 10 minutes more. Place on a plate and garnish with more thyme.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 237.4 calories, Carbohydrate 24.3 g, Cholesterol 19.1 mg, Fat 13.4 g, Fiber 4.4 g, Protein 10.2 g, SaturatedFat 4.8 g, Sodium 241.1 mg, Sugar 4.1 g

STUFFED PUMPKIN



Stuffed Pumpkin image

Step aside, jack-o'-lanterns. We've got another reason to carve a pumpkin.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Main Dish Recipes     Casserole Recipes

Number Of Ingredients 19

1 1/2 cups chestnuts
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound fresh porcini mushrooms, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 pound fresh chanterelle mushrooms, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
1 loaf (1 pound) Pullman or other white sandwich bread, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1 pound carrots, peeled and diced
2 large onions, finely chopped
8 celery stalks, diced
1 large sweet potato, peeled, cored, and diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups Turkey Stock or low-sodium store-bought chicken or vegetable broth
4 Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
3 large eggs
1 cheese pumpkin (10 to 12 pounds)

Steps:

  • Cut a slit in each chestnut with scissors or a paring knife. Cook chestnuts in a pot of boiling water for 20 minutes, then drain in a colander. When cool enough to handle, peel off and discard shells and inner brown skins.
  • Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large saute pan over medium high until shimmering. Saute chestnuts, stirring occasionally, until they begin to brown. With a slotted spoon, transfer chestnuts to a plate. Add both mushrooms to skillet and saute, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms release their juices and begin to turn golden, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and season with salt. Add bread cubes, and toss to mix.
  • Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in same pan over medium high. Add carrots, onions, celery, sweet potato, and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables begin to brown, about 10 minutes. Add stock and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer contents of pan to bread mixture along with the chestnuts. Add apples, herbs, and another 3 tablespoons olive oil. Toss well and season stuffing with salt and pepper, then mix in the eggs.
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Remove top of pumpkin by cutting a circle about 5 inches in diameter around stem with a paring knife: reserve top. Scrape out and discard seeds and stringy flesh from pumpkin. Rub inside of pumpkin with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Spoon stuffing into pumpkin and replace top. Bake stuffed pumpkin on a rimmed baking sheet until pumpkin is tender when pierced with a skewer, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. (Do not overcook pumpkin or the side may split.) To serve, remove top and scoop out stuffing and some pumpkin flesh with a large spoon.

STUFFED PUMPKIN STEW



Stuffed Pumpkin Stew image

Each vegetable is perfectly cooked and colorful, and the chicken takes on a wonderful flavor after it is warmed inside the steaming-hot pumpkin. Each portion of this dinner recipe is served with a big slice of the roasted pumpkin.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Meat & Poultry     Chicken     Chicken Thighs

Number Of Ingredients 20

Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
10 brussels sprouts, trimmed
6 ounces green beans, trimmed
4 ounces sugar snap peas, trimmed
1 cheese pumpkin (about 10 pounds), seeded, top reserved
3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
10 chicken thighs and legs, skin-on
1 cup homemade or store-bought low-sodium chicken stock
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 medium crisp baking apples (any type), cored and quartered
1 jar (7 ounces) vacuum-packed whole peeled chestnuts
12 ounces baby white potatoes, quartered
2 leeks, halved, light-green and white parts only, rinsed well and cut diagonally into 1 1/2-inch-thick slices
5 carrots, cut diagonally into 1-inch-thick slices
2 turnips, cut into eighths
4 parsnips, cut diagonally into 1-inch-thick slices
1/2 medium butternut squash, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes
1/2 celery root, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
2 tablespoons thinly sliced garlic
1/2 cup packed fresh flat-leaf parsley, coarsely chopped

Steps:

  • Prepare an ice-water bath. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add brussels sprouts, and cook until bright green and crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer to ice-water bath. Repeat with green beans and snap peas. Drain.
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Rub inside of pumpkin and cut side of its top with 3 tablespoons oil. Place pumpkin and top on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and roast until they are tender but still holding shape, about 1 hour.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken generously with salt and pepper. Working in batches, cook chicken until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove excess fat from skillet. Repeat with remaining chicken, adding 1 tablespoon oil to skillet with each batch. Place chicken on a baking sheet. Add stock to skillet, and bring to a boil, scraping bottom. Pour stock into a small bowl.
  • Roast chicken until golden brown and cooked through, about 40 minutes. Reserve pan juices.
  • Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add apples, and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden and softened, about 10 minutes. Stir in chestnuts, and remove from heat.
  • Combine potatoes, leeks, carrots, turnips, parsnips, squash, and celery root in a large bowl. Toss with remaining 1/2 cup oil, and season with salt and pepper. Spread vegetables in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet, and roast until golden and tender, about 40 minutes. Add brussels sprouts, green beans, snap peas, apple mixture, and the garlic, and toss. Roast until garlic is golden brown and vegetables are heated through, about 10 minutes.
  • Combine chicken, vegetables, parsley, stock, and 2 tablespoons reserved pan juices in a large bowl. Place mixture in pumpkin, and roast until heated through, about 15 minutes. Slice pumpkin into wedges. Serve each pumpkin wedge with some stew.

STUFFED PUMPKIN



Stuffed Pumpkin image

This is an American Indian recipe, that I have been making for several years. its earthy goodness makes its perfect at Thanksgiving and Halloween feast. but know that you can make it for any meal. The original calls for venison but if you cant get any, Ground sirloin is a great substitute. Also you can add all kind of goodies if you want like golden raisins or chopped up nuts,or apples. Try it every way its worth the time involved and ooh so good!

Provided by Recipe Baroness

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 2h15m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

16 ounces wild rice or 16 ounces uncle ben's long grain and wild rice blend
1 medium sugar pumpkin, has to be small enough to place in your oven
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
2 tablespoons bacon grease
1 lb ground venison or 1 lb beef sirloin
1 onion, chopped
3 eggs, beaten
1 lb sage sausage
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Steps:

  • In a saucepan, bring 2 1/2 cups water to a boil.
  • Add "Uncle Ben's" and stir.
  • Reduce heat, cover and simmer 25 minutes, or until tender.
  • Preheat oven to 350F (175 degrees C).
  • Remove the top of the pumpkin and scoop out pulp and seeds.
  • Prick the pumpkin interior with a fork and rub with 1 teaspoon salt and dry mustard.(I use Extra Dry Mustard Because I like the added Flavor).
  • Heat bacon grease in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Stir in the ground venison, sirloin and Sage Sausage and onion.
  • Slowly cook and stir until evenly brown.
  • Remove from heat.
  • Mix in the wild rice, remaining salt, eggs, and pepper.
  • Stuff the pumpkin with the meat mixture.
  • Place pumpkin in a shallow baking pan with 1/2 inch water.
  • Bake the pumpkin in the preheated oven 1 1/2 hours, or until tender.
  • Add more water to the pan as necessary to avoid sticking.

STUFFED PUMPKIN



Stuffed pumpkin image

Throwing a vegan dinner party in the autumn or winter months? Bake a pumpkin with a gorgeous stuffing of rice, fennel, apple, pomegranate seeds and pecans

Provided by Sophie Godwin - Cookery writer

Categories     Dinner, Main course

Time 1h15m

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 medium-sized pumpkin or round squash (about 1kg)
4 tbsp olive oil
100g wild rice
1 large fennel bulb
1 Bramley apple
1 lemon, zested and juiced
1 tbsp fennel seeds
½ tsp chilli flakes
2 garlic cloves, crushed
30g pecans, toasted and roughly chopped
1 large pack parsley, roughly chopped
3 tbsp tahini
pomegranate seeds, to serve

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Cut the top off the pumpkin or squash and use a metal spoon to scoop out the seeds. Get rid of any pithy bits but keep the seeds for another time (see our pumpkin seed recipe ideas). Put the pumpkin on a baking tray, rub with 2 tbsp of the oil inside and out, and season well. Roast in the centre of the oven for 45 mins or until tender, with the 'lid' on the side.
  • Meanwhile, rinse the wild rice well and cook following pack instructions, then spread out on a baking tray to cool. Thinly slice the fennel bulb and apple, then squeeze over ½ the lemon juice to stop them discolouring.
  • Heat the remaining 2 tbsp oil in a frying pan. Fry the fennel seeds and chilli flakes, then, once the seeds begin to pop, stir in ½ the garlic and the fennel. Cook for 5 mins until softened, then mix through the apple, pecans and lemon zest. Remove from the heat. Add the mixture to the the cooked rice, then stir in the chopped parsley and taste for seasoning.
  • Pack the mixture into the cooked pumpkin and return to the oven for 10-15 mins until everything is piping hot. Meanwhile, whisk the remaining lemon juice with the tahini, the rest of the garlic and enough water to make a dressing. Serve the pumpkin in the middle of the table, topped with pomegranate seeds and the dressing.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 693 calories, Fat 21 grams fat, SaturatedFat 3 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 97 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 10 grams sugar, Fiber 9 grams fiber, Protein 20 grams protein, Sodium 1.3 milligram of sodium

STUFFED PUMPKIN DINNER



Stuffed Pumpkin Dinner image

This recipe is a great way to use a pumpkin up after scooping out the seeds to bake. It is so delicious and fancy enough to serve to guests.-Christin Holt, Kingsburg, California

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h50m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 large pumpkin (5-1/2 to 6 pounds)
1 teaspoon salt, divided
1-1/2 pounds ground beef
3/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 small green pepper, chopped
1-1/2 cups cooked rice
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1/2 cup finely chopped fully cooked ham
2 eggs, beaten
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon cider vinegar

Steps:

  • Wash pumpkin; cut a 6-in. circle around top stem. Remove top and set aside; discard seeds and loose fibers from inside. Place pumpkin in a large Dutch oven. Fill with boiling water to a depth of 6 in.; add 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until the pumpkin is almost tender but holds its shape. Carefully remove and drain well; pat dry. , In a large skillet, cook the beef, onion and green pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink and vegetables are tender; drain well. Cool slightly; place in a large bowl. Add rice, tomato sauce, ham, eggs, garlic, oregano, pepper, vinegar and remaining salt. , Place pumpkin in a shallow sturdy baking pan. Firmly pack beef mixture into pumpkin; replace top. Leaving pan uncovered, bake at 350° for 1 hour. Let stand for 10 minutes. Remove the top; if desired, use paper towel to remove excess moisture from top of meat. Slice pumpkin into wedges.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 285 calories, Fat 13g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 114mg cholesterol, Sodium 595mg sodium, Carbohydrate 20g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 23g protein.

STUFFED PUMPKIN



Stuffed Pumpkin image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     side-dish

Number Of Ingredients 16

4 cups Mama's Cornbread
2 cups of toasted bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
10 saltine crackers, crumbled
2 cups vegetable stock
3 celery stalks, diced
1 medium onion, diced
2 large eggs
1/2 stick (2 ounces) butter
1 teaspoon dried sage
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 medium onion, finely sliced
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 (2 ounces) stick butter
3 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 cup vegetable stock
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease an 8 inch baking dish. Combine the corn bread, toasted bread and crackers in a large mixing bowl. Pour the stock into a saucepan and add celery and onion. Bring to a boil and cook for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the stock mixture from the stove and allow it to cool for about 10 minutes before proceeding. When it has cooled, add the stock mixture to the bread crumb mixture along with the eggs, butter, sage, and salt and pepper. Mix well.
  • In a skillet, saute the onion in the olive oil until it is brown. Add the butter and lower the heat. As the butter melts, add the flour, stirring constantly to keep it from burning. After the flour browns, add the stock and stir until the gravy thickens. Season with salt and pepper.

STUFFED PUMPKIN



Stuffed Pumpkin image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h25m

Number Of Ingredients 3

1 (3 to 4) pound pumpkin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Cut stem section from the pumpkin and remove seeds. Sprinkle inside with salt and cinnamon.
  • Place hollowed pumpkin on a baking sheet in oven and roast for 20 minutes. Remove and fill with cornbread dressing (recipe follows) leaving 1 to 2 inches at the top for expansion.
  • Increase oven temperature to 375 degrees.
  • Place stuffed pumpkin in oven and bake for another 35 to 40 minutes or until pumpkin is tender, dressing is set and nicely browned on top.

ROASTED STUFFED PUMPKIN



Roasted Stuffed Pumpkin image

The quantity of rice specified in the recipe is what I needed for the pumpkin I stipulate, but I should say two things here. One is that you might not find (or want) a pumpkin of exactly the same weight. The other is that different pumpkins have different-size cavities. The easiest way to find out how much rice you need is as follows: When you have cut the top off and scraped out the seeds, take a plastic freezer bag and line the cavity with it. Pour rice into the bag to about halfway up the cavity, then pour out the rice into a measuring cup. Double the measurement to determine how much stock or water to cook the rice in. The plastic liner is not a hygiene thing: it is just that if you don't use it, you will spend ages scraping out the rice. I know whereof I speak.

Provided by Nigella Lawson

Categories     dinner, main course

Time 2h

Yield 8 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 6 1/2- to 7-pound sugar pumpkin, or other pumpkin suitable for eating
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, 2 minced, 1 halved
1 cup dried cranberries
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon saffron threads
Finely grated zest of half an orange
2 cups basmati rice
4 cups vegetable stock
Salt

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 400 degrees. Fill a kettle with water, and bring to a boil. About an inch below the top of the pumpkin's ''shoulders,'' about where it would be cut to carve a jack-o'-lantern, slice a lid from top of pumpkin, and set it aside. Remove seeds and fibrous flesh from inside.
  • In a large saucepan over medium-low heat, heat the oil, and sauté the onion until it is softened. Add 2 minced garlic cloves, and sauté for 30 seconds. Stir in the cranberries, ginger, allspice, saffron and orange zest. Add the rice, and stir until it is glossy. Pour in stock, and bring to a boil. Cover, and reduce heat as low as possible. Cook for 15 minutes. Meanwhile rub the inside of pumpkin with cut garlic clove, and rub with some salt to taste.
  • When rice has cooked for 15 minutes, it will be damp and not very fluffy. Adjust seasoning to taste, and spoon into pumpkin cavity. Press lid firmly on top. It may sit above stuffing a bit like a jaunty cork. Wrap bottom two to three inches of pumpkin in a double layer of foil to protect it from contact with water during baking. Place in a roasting pan, and add about 1 inch of boiling water to pan.
  • Bake the pumpkin until it is tender when pierced with a knife, about 1 1/2 hours. (If there is resistance when pumpkin is pierced, allow more baking time.) To serve, remove pumpkin from pan, and allow it to rest for about 10 minutes. Discard foil, and place pumpkin on a serving platter. Slice into segments like a cake. Place a wedge of pumpkin on each serving plate, and mound with rice stuffing.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 234, UnsaturatedFat 2 grams, Carbohydrate 52 grams, Fat 2 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 4 grams, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 718 milligrams, Sugar 13 grams, TransFat 0 grams

TERI'S DINNER IN A PUMPKIN



Teri's Dinner in a Pumpkin image

I make this for my family every year around this time...and I feel you might like it as well. It also makes a wonderful addition to regular Thanksgiving day fare! Try serving it on a platter surrounded by small ornamental squash for a dramatic presentation.

Provided by Teri Blackburn Pell

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Pork     Ground Pork Recipes

Time 1h45m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 ½ pounds ground beef
1 pound ground pork sausage
salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken stock
1 ½ cups long grain and wild rice mix
1 sugar pumpkin
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of celery soup
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
2 (4 ounce) cans mushroom stems and pieces, drained
2 (14.5 ounce) cans French cut green beans

Steps:

  • In a large skillet over medium heat, mix ground beef and sausage. Cook and stir until evenly browned. Mix in salt and pepper, pumpkin pie spice, and brown sugar.
  • Drain meats, and mix in chicken stock and rice. Cover, and cook 25 to 30 minutes, until rice is tender.
  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Remove and reserve top of pumpkin. Scoop out seeds and stringy pulp.
  • Mix cream of celery soup, cream of mushroom soup, mushroom stems and pieces, and green beans into the beef and sausage mixture. Spoon mixture into the pumpkin, and replace pumpkin top.
  • Place pumpkin on a large baking sheet, and bake 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until pumpkin is tender. Scoop out portions of filling and parts of the cooked pulp to serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 629 calories, Carbohydrate 46.2 g, Cholesterol 93.9 mg, Fat 40.4 g, Fiber 4.3 g, Protein 23.9 g, SaturatedFat 14.9 g, Sodium 1652.5 mg, Sugar 11.1 g

PUMPKIN STUFFED WITH EVERYTHING GOOD



Pumpkin Stuffed With Everything Good image

I heard an interview on NPR with Dorie Greenspan, the author of a cookbook called "Around My French Table." The author describes this as a great dish that far surpasses the description or list of ingredients. She also says there are a million variation -- use rice instead of bread, add nuts, apples, spinach, etc. The recipe I'm posting here is the one the interviewer absolutely raved about on the program! (I'm subbing vegetarian bacon for the real bacon. Too me the flavor is the same and you don't have all the bad stuff in real bacon.)

Provided by Wish I Could Cook

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 2h25m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

3 lbs whole pumpkin
salt and freshly ground pepper
1/4 lb stale bread, thinly sliced and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
1/4 lb cheese, such as Gruyere, Emmenthal, cheddar, or a combination, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
2 -4 garlic cloves, split, germ removed, and coarsely chopped (to taste)
4 slices vegetarian bacon, cooked until crisp, and chopped
1/4 cup snipped fresh chives (green onions) or 1/4 cup sliced scallion (green onions)
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, minced
1/3 cup heavy cream
1 pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

Steps:

  • As written:.
  • Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment, or find a Dutch oven with a diameter that's just a tiny bit larger than your pumpkin. If you bake the pumpkin in a casserole, it will keep its shape, but it might stick to the casserole, so you'll have to serve it from the pot - which is an appealingly homey way to serve it. If you bake it on a baking sheet, you can present it freestanding, but maneuvering a heavy stuffed pumpkin with a softened shell isn't so easy. However, since I love the way the unencumbered pumpkin looks in the center of the table, I've always taken my chances with the baked-on-a-sheet method, and so far, I've been lucky.
  • Using a very sturdy knife - and caution - cut a cap out of the top of the pumpkin (think Halloween jack-o'-lantern). It's easiest to work your knife around the top of the pumpkin at a 45-degree angle. You want to cut off enough of the top to make it easy for you to work inside the pumpkin. Clear away the seeds and strings from the cap and from inside the pumpkin. Season the inside of the pumpkin generously with salt and pepper, and put it on the baking sheet or in the pot. Toss the bread, cheese, garlic, bacon, and herbs together in a bowl. Season with pepper - you probably have enough salt from the bacon and cheese, but taste to be sure - and pack the mix into the pumpkin. The pumpkin should be well filled - you might have a little too much filling, or you might need to add to it. Stir the cream with the nutmeg and some salt and pepper and pour it into the pumpkin. Again, you might have too much or too little - you don't want the ingredients to swim in cream, but you do want them nicely moistened. (But it's hard to go wrong here.).
  • Put the cap in place and bake the pumpkin for about 2 hours - check after 90 minutes - or until everything inside the pumpkin is bubbling and the flesh of the pumpkin is tender enough to be pierced easily with the tip of a knife. Because the pumpkin will have exuded liquid, I like to remove the cap during the last 20 minutes or so, so that the liquid can bake away and the top of the stuffing can brown a little.
  • When the pumpkin is ready, carefully, very carefully - it's heavy, hot, and wobbly - bring it to the table or transfer it to a platter that you'll bring to the table.
  • Serving:.
  • You have choices:you can cut wedges of the pumpkin and filling; you can spoon out portions of the filling, making sure to get a generous amount of pumpkin into the spoonful; or you can dig into the pumpkin with a big spoon, pull the pumpkin meat into the filling, and then mix everything up. I'm a fan of the pull-and-mix option. Served in hearty portions followed by a salad, the pumpkin is a perfect cold-weather main course; served in generous spoonfuls or wedges, it's just right alongside the Thanksgiving turkey.
  • Storing:.
  • It's really best to eat this as soon as it's ready. However, if you've got leftovers, you can scoop them out of the pumpkin, mix them up, cover, and chill them; reheat them the next day.
  • Greenspan's Stuffing Ideas:.
  • There are many ways to vary this arts-and-crafts project. Instead of bread, I've filled the pumpkin with cooked rice - when it's baked, it's almost risotto-like. And, with either bread or rice, on different occasions I've added cooked spinach, kale, chard, or peas (the peas came straight from the freezer). I've made it without bacon, and I've also made and loved, loved, loved it with cooked sausage meat; cubes of ham are another good idea. Nuts are a great addition, as are chunks of apple or pear or pieces of chestnut.

Tips:

  • Choose the right pumpkin: Look for a pumpkin that is firm, has a deep orange color, and has a smooth, unblemished skin. A good rule of thumb is to choose a pumpkin that is about 10-12 pounds.
  • Prepare the pumpkin: Cut the top off the pumpkin and scoop out the seeds and pulp. Save the seeds to roast later. Rinse the pumpkin inside and out and pat it dry.
  • Choose your stuffing: There are endless possibilities for stuffing a pumpkin. Some popular options include rice, quinoa, wild rice, and bread cubes. You can also add vegetables, meat, or seafood to your stuffing.
  • Season the stuffing: Be sure to season your stuffing with plenty of herbs and spices. Some good choices include salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and thyme.
  • Bake the pumpkin: Place the stuffed pumpkin in a roasting pan and bake it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 1 hour, or until the pumpkin is tender and the stuffing is cooked through.

Conclusion:

Stuffed pumpkin is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. By following these tips, you can create a stuffed pumpkin that is sure to impress your family and friends. Whether you are looking for a hearty main course or a festive side dish, stuffed pumpkin is a great option. So next time you are looking for a new and exciting way to cook pumpkin, give stuffed pumpkin a try!

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