Stuffed Pumpkin With Mushroom Rice And Cranberries Recipes

STUFFED PUMPKIN WITH MUSHROOM RICE AND CRANBERRIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200C/180Fan/Gas Mark 6/400F. Cut the top off your pumpkin and remove the seeds and stringy flesh from the inside. Don't throw the top of the pumpkin away.
• Rub 2 tablespoons of olive oil all over the pumpkin inside and out. Season the pumpkin well and roast for about 30-45 minutes or until tender (including the lid).
• In a large pan, gently fry the diced onion until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the crushed garlic, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, allspice, orange zest, mushrooms and salt and pepper. Stir in the rice, then pour in the hot stock. Place a lid on top, turn the heat to low and cook for about 10-15 minutes or until the rice has absorbed all the liquid and is soft and fluffy.
• Remove the rice from the heat and stir in the chopped pecans, cranberries, dill and parsley. Taste the rice to see if you want to add more salt and pepper. Spoon the cooked rice into the roasted pumpkin, drizzle the top with 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil and bake for a further 15-20 minutes or until very hot.
• Remove from the oven and scatter with pomegrate seeds, if using, before serving.

SAUSAGE & RICE STUFFED PUMPKINS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°. Cut a 3-in. circle around each pumpkin stem. Remove tops and set aside. Remove strings and seeds from pumpkins; discard seeds or save for roasting. , In a large skillet, cook sausage, vegetables and garlic over medium heat 6-8 minutes or until sausage is no longer pink, breaking up sausage into crumbles; drain. Remove from heat; stir in rice, 3/4 cup cheese, eggs, parsley, salt and thyme., Place pumpkins in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan; fill with rice mixture. Replace pumpkin tops. Bake 30 minutes., Reduce oven setting to 350°. Bake 25-35 minutes longer or until pumpkin is tender when pierced with a knife and a thermometer inserted in filling reads 160°. Sprinkle remaining cheese over filling. Cut to serve.