Baked Pumpkin With Stuffing

It's the second day of Summer but this morning felt like a big throwback to winter again. One day I'm sure I'll live in a city that doesn't have multiple personalities..ahem Melbourne I'm looking at you. 'Four seasons in a day' the saying goes about my home city and it couldn't be truer! It's like second nature to carry a jacket, umbrella, boots and a t-shirt in my car because I've learnt my lesson the (very) hard way more than once! Many a hair-do and ballet flats have gone to waste thanks to Melbourne's sporadic weather.

And because it's a little nippy, and I am reminiscent of this time last year when I was freezing my butt off in Paris I thought I'd share this delicious and easy baked pumpkin with stuffing recipe to jazz up your side dishes tonight for dinner. It's a little different and the 'stuffing' is much healthier and easier than the usual sorts (although they are so delicious!) Plus these rich and vibrant colours on the dinner table look so festive to me! The leftovers (if there are any) are great the next day scooped out onto a bed of rocket/arugula with a couple of poached eggs on top for brunch :)

Baked Pumpkin with Stuffing

Ingredients
1 half of butternut pumpkin, scored and seeds scooped out to make a well
1 tbs dukkah plus extra if you like
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup chopped walnuts/pecans/almonds
1 tsp dried sage leaves
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 cup pomegranate jewels

Method
Place pumpkin on baking paper lined baking tray, flesh side up
Brush with half the olive oil In a separate bowl, combine remaining olive oil, nuts, bread crumbs, sage, dukkah, salt, and pepper
Place this 'stuffing' into the pumpkin where the seeds were scooped out
Place into the oven for 70 minutes, check the pumpkin with a skewer for tenderness
If it's still firm, pop back into the oven until tender all the way through
Cooking time will really depend on how large your pumpkin is, generally mine always take 70-90 minutes to cook through
Once cooked, place onto a serving dish and sprinkle with extra dukkah if you like, and pomegranate jewels

Enjoy!