This Roasted Stuffed Pumpkin is filled with scrumptious substances—sausage, apples, cranberries, spinach, pecans, feta cheese, onions, garlic, and contemporary herbs. The filling combines savory and candy flavors, making it a perfect dish for a vacation gathering or any event! Serve it alongside Thanksgiving turkey or Christmas ham (or each!).
Stuffed pumpkin
The savory stuffing completely enhances the pure delicate sweetness of the pumpkin. This gluten-free recipe is a superb addition to any vacation menu and works splendidly as a fast weeknight meal. I’ve made this stuffed pumpkin numerous occasions, and everybody who tries it loves it! I used small pumpkins, halved them, roasted them within the oven, and stuffed them with a flavorful sausage-apple combination. This dish has a broad enchantment: one stuffed half makes a satisfying but mild weeknight meal and it’s also possible to serve it as a aspect. I served it as soon as as a aspect dish to grilled steaks and everybody cleaned their plates! And, in fact, it is a unbelievable addition to the Thanksgiving desk subsequent to the vacation turkey and makes a superb aspect dish for Christmas ham similar to this stuffed butternut squash and this apple stuffed acorn squash.
Fundamental substances and substitutions
- Pumpkin – Be sure that to decide on an edible pumpkin selection, like pie pumpkin or sugar pumpkin, slightly than a carving pumpkin. Search for a small pumpkin you may maintain in a single hand, in regards to the measurement of a medium or massive acorn squash. And in the event you don’t have pumpkin readily available, acorn squash works completely in its place!
- Sausage – I used scorching crumbled Italian sausage, however you may go for a light model or a traditional pork sausage, like sage.
- Apples – I used Honeycrisp apples. You should utilize some other type – simply ensure to decide on apples of agency texture in order that they stand as much as cooking. I like to recommend Fuji or Gala.
- Onion and garlic – They’re sautéed with the sausage and supply a terrific flavorful base! You should utilize any kind of onion—candy, yellow, or white.
- Spinach – I used contemporary spinach, however frozen spinach can actually be used! Be sure that to thaw it and drain it from any liquid. I might even pat it dry with paper towels. An alternative choice is kale.
- Dried Cranberries – I used Craisins, soaking them briefly in scorching water to plump them up. You possibly can additionally use dried figs, blueberries, or dried cherries.
- Pecans add crunch and texture. Or, use walnuts or pistachios. If you wish to maintain this nut-free, add roasted pumpkin seeds!
The right way to make stuffed pumpkin
Right here’s a fast overview of the recipe directions with useful step-by-step photographs. For the total, detailed recipe, scroll right down to the recipe card.
- Roast the Squash. You’ll want 2 small pumpkins (akin to pie pumpkin or sugar pumpkin). Slice each in half and scoop out the seeds, providing you with 4 halves. Roast them in a preheated oven at 400°F for half-hour.
- Make the Filling. Whereas the squash is roasting, put together the sausage filling. Begin by cooking the onions, garlic, and sausage collectively for about 10 minutes. As soon as the sausage is totally cooked by way of and the onions have softened, stir in spinach and cook dinner till wilted. Combine in dried cranberries.
- Stuff the Squash. If mandatory, reheat the sausage filling on the stovetop, then spoon it into the cavities of every of the 4 pumpkin halves. Prime with toasted pecans and, if desired, with crumbled feta cheese and extra dried cranberries. And similar to that, your dinner is prepared!
Storage and reheating suggestions
- Refrigerate. Retailer leftovers in an hermetic container or zipped plastic bag within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
- Freeze. This dish freezes properly and will be saved in an hermetic container or freezer bag for as much as 2 months, making it a terrific choice for meal prep and make-ahead meals.
- Reheat within the Oven. To reheat, place the stuffed pumpkin in a preheated oven at 350°F for about half-hour, or till the filling is warmed by way of.
- Reheat within the Microwave. Reheat within the microwave in 30-second intervals, till heated by way of. Alternatively (and this could be a faster choice), take away the sausage-apple filling, microwave each the filling and pumpkin individually, then restuff the pumpkin earlier than serving.
What to serve with stuffed pumpkin
Pumpkin pairs splendidly with quite a lot of easy sides, akin to Autumn greens like Brussels sprouts, carrots, or inexperienced beans. It additionally goes nice with roasted or mashed potatoes. Listed below are my high suggestions:
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Toasted Pecans, and Dried Cranberries
- Simple Scalloped Potatoes with Garlic, Thyme, and Parmesan Cheese
- Tacky Baked Asparagus with Gruyere cheese, Garlic, and Bacon
- Inexperienced Beans with Pine Nuts
- Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic
Extra pumpkin recipes
- Creamy Pumpkin Gnocchi with Spinach and Sausage (30-Minute, One-Pan)
- Apple Pumpkin Bundt Cake
- Pumpkin Ravioli with Brown Butter Sauce and Pecans
Different Thanksgiving recipes you may like
- 50 Finest Thanksgiving Recipes (The Full Vacation Menu)– If you happen to’re on the lookout for an entire Thanksgiving menu that options every little thing: Fall-inspired vacation appetizers, aspect dishes, salads, principal programs, pasta recipes, desserts, and even breakfast.
- 60 Finest Thanksgiving Facet Dishes– in the event you’re trying just for aspect dish recipes so as to add to your vacation feast!
- 30 Finest Thanksgiving Salads – If you happen to’re on the lookout for festive, colourful, and contemporary Thanksgiving salads.
- 40 Finest Meatless Thanksgiving Recipes – this menu options MEATLESS, VEGETARIAN vacation principal dishes and aspect dishes, and you will not miss the meat with this menu!
Stuffed Pumpkin with Sausage and Apples
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Components
Roasted Pumpkin
- 2 small pumpkins about 6 inches extensive
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt or extra
- freshly floor coarse black pepper
Apple Sausage Filling
- 1 small onion diced
- 5 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 19 oz scorching Italian sausage crumbled
- 5 oz contemporary spinach
- 2 massive apples cored and diced into small cubes
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup pecans toasted
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese non-obligatory
- contemporary thyme
Directions
Roast the Pumpkin
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Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Use edible pumpkin (akin to sugar pumpkin or pie pumpkin), not the carving type.
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Take away the skin stem (if current) and slice every pumpkin in half. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and any fibrous strands. Brush the within and minimize sides of the 4 pumpkin halves with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
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Place the pumpkin halves minimize aspect down on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Roast for 30-40 minutes on the bottom rack or till the pumpkin is mushy and simply pierced with a fork from the skin.
Make the Apple-Sausage Filling
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Whereas the pumpkin roasts, put together the filling.
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Warmth a big skillet over medium warmth and add the crumbled sausage, chopped onion, and garlic. Prepare dinner for about 10 minutes, stirring often, breaking apart the sausage, till the sausage is totally cooked and the onions are softened.
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Add the spinach and stir till it wilts. Stir in dried cranberries.
Stuff the Pumpkin
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Notice: I extremely suggest utilizing toasted pecans. Right here is how one can toast uncooked pecans: Unfold them out in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast them within the preheated oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes, simply till they darken barely.
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As soon as the pumpkin is roasted, take away it from the oven and switch the halves minimize aspect up.
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Stuff every pumpkin half with the apple-sausage combination, then high with toasted pecans and, if desired, feta cheese and extra dried cranberries. End with a sprinkle of contemporary thyme.
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If wanted, reheat the stuffed pumpkins on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet within the oven for about 10 or quarter-hour.
Diet
