Kale-stuffed butternut pumpkin takes centre stage in this hearty, flavour-packed dish—perfect for cosy winter meals that nourish and satisfy.
Kale-Stuffed Butternut Pumpkin Ingredients
- 1 medium butternut pumpkin (also called butternut squash), halved lengthwise and seeds removed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for roasting
- 2–3 cups fresh kale, chopped and stems removed
- 1 small red onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tin of chickpeas – strained.
- ½ cup cooked quinoa (or rice or couscous)
- ¼ cup finely grated parmesan.
- Zest of ½ a lemon and a squeeze of juice
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional: dried cranberries, a pinch of chilli flakes and 2 tablespoons of sunflower seeds.
Instructions
Preheat oven to 200°C (390°F).
1. Roast the Pumpkin
- Drizzle the cut sides of the butternut with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Place flesh-side down on a baking tray lined with baking paper.
- Roast for 30–40 minutes, or until the flesh is tender when pierced with a fork.
- Once cool enough to handle, scoop out a little of the flesh to create a shallow “bowl,” and reserve the scooped-out flesh
2. Prepare the Filling
- While the pumpkin roasts, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
- Sauté the onion until soft (about 5 minutes), then add garlic and cook for another 1–2 minutes.
- Add the chopped kale and strained chickpeas and cook until wilted, about 3–4 minutes.
- Stir in the cooked quinoa, reserved pumpkin flesh (chopped), cranberries, half of the parmesan, sunflower seeds (if using), lemon zest, and a squeeze of lemon juice.
- Season with salt, pepper, and optional chili flakes.
Need help cooking quinoa perfectly? Try this how-to guide from Taste.
3. Stuff and Bake
- Turn the roasted pumpkin halves flesh-side up.
- Fill each half generously with the kale mixture.
- Return to the oven and bake uncovered for another 10–15 minutes, until the filling is heated through and golden on top.
4. Serve
- sprinkle remainder of parmesan over the top and cranberries (if using)
- serve warm as a stand alone dish or with a protein of your choice!
