Ghapama

Ղափամա · Ghapama

Ingredients11

• small pumpkin1 (about 2 kg)
• short-grain rice200 g
• butter60 g
• honey3 tbsp
• dried apricots80 g
• raisins60 g
• walnuts60 g
• prunes40 g
• sugar2 tbsp
• ground cinnamon1 tsp
• salt1/2 tsp

Method

1. Cut the top off the pumpkin to make a lid and scoop out the seeds and stringy flesh, leaving a thick wall.
2. Rinse the rice and boil it in salted water until just half cooked, then drain.
3. Chop the apricots, prunes, and walnuts. Mix them with the rice, raisins, melted butter, honey, sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
4. Fill the pumpkin with the mixture, replace the lid, and set it in a baking dish with a little water in the bottom.
5. Bake at 180°C for about 1 hour 15 minutes, until the pumpkin is soft and the filling is cooked through.
6. Rest briefly, then serve in wedges so each portion includes pumpkin flesh and the sweet rice filling.