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FoodieAtlas Recipes around the World

Ghapama

Ghapama
Armenia
⏱ — min. Serves: —

Ingredients

  • 1 medium pumpkin (about 4-5 lbs)
  • 1 cup rice
  • 2 cups water
  • 1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1/2 cup chopped almonds
  • 1/2 cup chopped dried apples
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

Prepare the Pumpkin

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Wash the pumpkin thoroughly. Cut off the top to create a lid and scoop out all the seeds and stringy pulp from the inside. Set the cleaned pumpkin aside.

Cook the Rice

In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add the rice and a pinch of salt. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.

Prepare the Filling

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked rice, chopped apricots, raisins, chopped walnuts, chopped almonds, chopped dried apples, honey, melted butter, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, ground allspice, and a pinch of salt. Mix well until all the ingredients are evenly distributed.

Fill the Pumpkin

Spoon the rice mixture into the hollowed pumpkin, packing it in firmly. Replace the top of the pumpkin as a lid.

Bake the Ghapama

Place the filled pumpkin in a large baking dish. Add about 1 inch of water to the baking dish to help keep the pumpkin moist while baking.

Bake in the preheated oven for about 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the pumpkin is tender when pierced with a fork.

Serve

Remove the ghapama from the oven and let it cool slightly. Carefully transfer the pumpkin to a serving platter.

To serve, remove the lid and scoop out the filling along with some of the pumpkin flesh. Serve hot.

Enjoy your meal!