Braised pumpkin with couscous and feta cheese filling
The well-known Hokkaido pumpkin, introduced to Europe from Japan, has a nutty, kernel-like flavor. The skin can be used without any problems (organic produce is best). It has a long shelf life.
Ingredients · Servings 4
- 3-4 small Hokkaido pumpkins (or small Mandarin pumpkins as a substitute)
- 500 ml vegetable broth
- 1 tsp cinnamon, saffron, ground cumin
- 150 g Instant-Couscous
- 1 large red onion
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 5-6 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 EL White Balsamic
- 60g roasted pine nuts
- 2 tsp + 1 tbsp honey
- 200g crumbled feta cheese
- 100g dried, pitted dates
- ½ bunch flat-leaf parsley
- 3-4 sprigs of fresh mint
- Salt
- Cayenne pepper
- Juice of 1 organic lime
- 1 tbsp Pul Bur (Turkish chili flakes) for sprinkling
Method · 1 h 25 min
- Preheat oven to 180°C. Wash the pumpkins and place them side by side in a deep baking tray. Pour in one-third of the broth, place the tray in the hot oven, and pre-cook the pumpkins for about 25 minutes.
- For the filling, bring the remaining broth to a boil with cinnamon, saffron, and cumin. Then pour it over the couscous in a bowl and let it soak for about 10 minutes.
- Peel and dice the onion and garlic, then sauté in 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Deglaze with balsamic vinegar and mix into the couscous along with the toasted pine nuts, 2 teaspoons of honey, and crumbled feta cheese.
- Dice the dates, pick the herb leaves and chop them finely. Mix both into the couscous. Season everything to taste with salt and cayenne pepper.
- Remove the pre-cooked pumpkins from the oven. Cut off the top quarter like a lid. Scoop out the seeds and pulp from the inside with a spoon. Fill the hollowed-out pumpkins with the couscous mix and replace the lids. Whisk together 3-4 tablespoons of olive oil with lime juice, 1 tablespoon of honey, and pul biber (Aleppo pepper), drizzle the mixture over the pumpkins, and roast in the hot oven for about 30 minutes.
Wine recommendation from Jana Schellenberg
Jörg Geiger Manufactory, manufaktur-joerg-geiger.de, €10.
A wonderful alcohol-free alternative. Delicate rose scent, paired with apple and raspberry, along with the freshness and fragrance of chocolate mint, harmonize perfectly with the oriental spices.
