Kaddo Bourani Food

KADDO BOWRANI (AFGHAN PUMPKIN WITH YOGHURT SAUCE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F/175C. Deseed the pumpkin and peel off the skin. Cut the piece into approx 4 equal pieces.
• Warm the oil in a skillet big enough to hold all of the pieces of pumpkin in one layer and that will go in the oven. Over a medium heat, cook the pumpkin for a couple minutes on each side, starting with inside-side down, so it gently browns on the pieces that touch the oil.
• Baste the inside of the pumpkin with the hot oil then sprinkle on the cinnamon evenly. Sprinkle over the sugar then cover and put in the oven for approx 30 minutes until tender.
• While the pumpkin is cooking, mix together the yoghurt and garlic, along with a small dash of salt.
• Serve the pumpkin warm, with the yoghurt sauce on top. Don't forget to scrape up any crystalized sugar from the bottom of the pan!

KADDO BOURANI (AFGHANI BAKED PUMPKIN WITH YOGURT SAUCE)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300°F.
• Cut the pumpkins in half through the stem end, and cut out the long stringy fibers.
• Cut each pumpkin half into 3- to 4-inch pieces.
• There should be about 8 pieces from each pumpkin.
• Using a vegetable peeler, pare the rind from the pumpkins, digging the peeler down a little to remove more than just the superficial layer of rind.
• Place the pumpkin pieces hollow sides up in a baking pan large enough to hold them in a single layer.
• Coat both sides of the pieces, using all of the oil.
• Pour all the sugar evenly over the pieces.
• Cover the pan.
• Bake the pumpkins until the color turns darker orange and becomes nearly translucent, and the texture is extremely tender, about 3 hours and 15 minutes.
• Baste the pieces once with the pan juices after 2 1/2 hours of baking.
• The Yogurt Sauce: Stir together the yogurt, garlic, mint and salt.
• Cover and refrigerate until serving time.
• Just before serving, taste and add more salt if necessary.
• Yields 2 cups sauce.
• For each serving: Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the yogurt sauce onto a plate.
• Using the back of the spoon, spread the sauce a little.
• Using a slotted spoon, remove 2 pieces of the pumpkin from the pan and center them on the sauce.
• Add more sauce to taste.

KADDO BOURANI

Steps:

• Make the pumpkin: It helps to have a serious vegetable cleaver for this bit. Preheat your oven to 300º. Wash off the outside of the pumpkins. Cut them in half. Scrape out the stringy stuff on the inside. Cut the halves into 3#-4# pieces or so. Peel them. Get rid of all the green and rind. Find a baking pan large enough to hold all the pumpkin pieces in a single layer. Cover the pumpkin pieces in the oil and place them hollow side up in the pan. Pour the sugar evenly over the pumpkin pieces. Cover the pan with aluminum foil. Bake for 2 1/2 hours, then baste the pieces with the pan juices, cover them up again, and bake for another 45 minutes. The sugar will all melt away and end up partially absorbed. The pumpkin pieces will turn dark orange and translucent. They will have a stunningly novel texture. It is a beautiful thing. Make the yogurt sauce: Mix all the ingredients together. Refridgerate. Make the meat sauce: Brown the onions in the oil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add the meat and cook over medium-high heat, stirring, until browned. Add all other ingredients (except for the tomato paste and water) and cook, stirring, for another 5 minutes or so. Stir in the tomato paste, then add the water and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and let simmer, covered, for about 15 minutes. Serve: Hot pumpkin, topped with cold yogurt sauce, topped with hot meat sauce.