Cambodian Stuffed Pumpkin Food

STUFFED PUMPKIN

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.

CAMBODIAN STUFFED PUMPKIN

Steps:

• Cut the top off the pumpkin, and place the pumpkin in a steamer or on a rack in a large pot with a small amount of water just simmering, then seal the pot and steam the pumpkin for an hour (you need the flesh to be soft enough to spoon out of the pumpkin).
• Spoon out flesh when pumpkin is ready.
• Whisk the egg yolks with the palm sugar.
• Bring the coconut cream to a slow and gentle boil, remove from the heat and stir, not whisk, into the egg mixture.
• Pour into the pumpkin and bake in the oven for 25mins at 170°C.
• Custard will set in the pumpkin.
• Leave to cool.
• To serve slice the pumpkin like you would cutting a cake.
• Perfect with chocolate sauce or vanilla ice cream.