PUMPKIN RICE RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. Peel and deseed the pumpkin, then chop into 2cm chunks.
  2. Pour 800ml of boiling salted water into a large pan over a medium-high heat, add the coconut cream and leave to melt, then add the pumpkin and allspice berries.
  3. Trim the spring onions and bash with your fist, then halve and drop into the pan with half the thyme sprigs and the whole Scotch bonnets (no holes or bruises please).
  4. Roughly chop the cabbage, discarding the core, then add to the pan with ½ a teaspoon each of sea salt and black pepper. Cover and cook for 10 minutes, then rinse and stir in the rice.
  5. Pop the lid back on, turn the heat down to low and cook for 12 minutes, or until the water is absorbed. Turn the heat off and leave to steam.
  6. Meanwhile, peel and finely slice the garlic and peel and roughly chop the onion, then place in a large non-stick frying pan on a medium heat with 2 tablespoons of oil and cook for 5 minutes.
  7. Halve the tomatoes, then remove the chillies from the rice, carefully deseed, slice, and add half to the pan (feel free to add more later, to taste, and remember to clean your knife, board and hands thoroughly after).
  8. Pick in the remaining thyme leaves, then trim and halve the okra and add to the pan. Cover and cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, then tip in the beans (juices and all) to warm through for a few minutes.
  9. Fork up the rice, breaking up the pumpkin, and serve with the beans, seasoning everything to perfection.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375° F.
• With a sharp knife, cut a 4- to 6-inch-wide lid off the top of each pumpkin.
• Use a large spoon to scoop out the seeds and stringy fibers, (use seeds for roasted pumpkin seeds, if desired, or discard).
• Set a square of foil, over the opening cut on top of th pumpkin and set the lid on top of the foil (th foil is to keep the lid from falling back into the pumpkins).
• Place prepared pumpkins in a baking pan filled with about 1/2 inch of water and bake until the insides are tender, about 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the size of your pumpkins.
• Remove from the oven and keep warm.
• While the pumkins are baking prepare the rice.
• In a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium-high heat.
• Add the onion, bell pepper, zucchini, and garlic, and sauté, until the vegetables are tender, about 8 minutes.
• Stir in the water, brown wild rice, parsley, salt, pepper, and turmeric, and bring to a simmer.
• Cover and cook over low heat until all of the liquid is absorbed, about 45 minutes.
• Fluff with a fork, and stir in the peas, carrots and corn.
• If desired, fold in the Parmesan or soy cheese.
• Set aside until the pumpkins are done.
• When the pumpkins are finished baking, discard the foil; spoon the rice mixture into the pumpkins and cover with the lids and serve.
• When serving, be sure to serve some of the inside of the pumpkin along with the rice stuffing.