Baked Whole Pumpkin Recipes

WHOLE BAKED PUMPKIN WITH CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375⁰. Slice the top off the pumpkin ¾ of the way up the top and retain; this is your lid. Scoop out the seeds and superficial fibers from the pumpkin. Place the pumpkin on a baking sheet or in a baking dish.
• Put enough shredded Gruyere into the empty cavity of the pumpkin to fill about a third of it, then pour in the cream until the cavity is two-thirds full. Add a generous pinch of nutmeg, a bit of salt and pepper. Throw in the butter and then top with your pumpkin lid so the pumpkin is whole again.
• Cook for 45 minutes to 1 ½ hours depending on the pumpkin. Test for doneness by removing the lid and poking the flesh from the inside. It should be quite tender. The skin may be slightly burnt and just beginning to sag.
• Serve whole and scoop out plenty of flesh with the creamy cheesy liquid into soup bowls.

STUFFED PUMPKIN DINNER

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.

WHOLE ROASTED PUMPKIN

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 350F. Rinse off your pumpkin, then use a knife to stab the hard outer shell a few times, to allow for ventilation. Place the whole pumpkin in a glass baking dish, and transfer to the oven to roast for 45-60 minutes, depending on the size of your pumpkin. The pumpkin is ready when the flesh is darker, and the skin can be easily pierced with a fork. Cut the pumpkin in half, and allow to cool for 20-30 minutes, until cool enough to handle. Use a large spoon to scrape out the seeds, and reserve them for another use. The skin should peel off very easily at this point, so remove the skin and transfer chunks of the cooked pumpkin into a food processor. Blend until a smooth puree is formed. You may have to do this in batches, depending on the size of your pumpkin. Store the pumpkin puree in a sealed container in the fridge for up to a week, and use it in your favorite pumpkin recipes! You could also freeze it to extend it's shelf life indefinitely.