Pumpkin Bake …

Pumpkin Bake 001

 

I love this dish for loads of reasons … it’s perfect for those occasions when you’re asked to bring something, you can prepare it a day ahead if you like, it’s healthy and best of all … it’s scrumptious!  My kids love it and usually come back for seconds (and sometimes thirds)!

A word of warning though!  Please be extremely careful when chopping the pumpkin.  It’s such a difficult vegetable to chop up and I’ve often thought that if I ever lose a finger, it will happen when I’m chopping pumpkin … melodramatic I know!  Perfect job for hubby if you ask me!

Pumpkin Bake …
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Ingredients ...
  • 2 – 2 ½ kg piece of pumpkin, approx (any variety but I like to use Kent)
  • Salt, pinch
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 egg
  • Cracked Black Pepper
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 8 pieces rindless bacon, chopped
  • 1 cup tasty cheese, grated
Method ...
  1. Peel pumpkin and chop into large chunks. Place in a large pot with just enough water to cover and add a dash of salt. Simmer until just cooked through (be very careful not to overcook), remove from heat, strain well and mash.
  2. Stir the butter through the hot pumpkin until melted. Whisk the egg lightly and stir through the mashed pumpkin, working quickly so the egg doesn’t set.
  3. Sprinkle mixture with cracked black pepper and stir through. Place pumpkin mixture in baking/serving dish and spread evenly.
  4. Lightly sauté the onion and bacon and then spread on top of pumpkin mixture.
  5. Top with grated cheese and then bake in the oven for 20 – 25 minutes at 180C until cheese melts and browns slightly. Remove from oven and serve.

 

 

Pumpkin Bake 002

 

Clever Tricks, Tips & Hints …

  • Make sure the pumpkin pieces are a similar size so that they cook through evenly and be careful not to overcook the pumpkin.  It just needs to be a “mashable” consistency, remember, we’re not making soup!
  • When straining the pumpkin, be sure to strain as much water as possible, otherwise the pumpkin will be a bit mushy.  If the pumpkin does feel a bit runny, it can be thickened by adding some extra grated cheese.

So tell me, what dish do you like to prepare when you’re asked to “bring a plate”?

Comments

  1. This must be super tasty. I agree, chopping pumpkin is a dangerous task and I’m always worried I’ll lose a finger (or two). I love how this has bacon and onion in it – wonderful flavours with pumpkin xx

    • It’s yummy indeed … just a simple way to jazz up some pumpkin and perfect when you need to “take a plate”! x

  2. Sandie my mother in law taught me a great tip about pumpkin and that is poking a couple of holes in it and roasting it whole. I haven’t cooked it any other way since 🙂