Instant Pot Stuffed Pumpkin
This Instant Pot stuffed pumpkin feast is the best thing that you can make in your Instant Pot this fall! A whole pumpkin stuffed with rice, steak, nuts, and cranberries.
Equipment
Ingredients
For the steak
- 1 lbs steak strips
- 1 tsp pumpkin spice
- ½ tsp salt and pepper
- 1 tbsp butter
For the rice
- 2 cups long grain rice
- 1 cinnamon stick
- ½ tsp salt and pepper
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp pumpkin spice
- ¼ tsp vegetable stock or water
Pumpkin
- 1 pumpkin we used 3 pound pumpkin, make sure it can fit in your Instant Pot
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp salt and pepper
For the nuts
- ¼ cup walnuts
- ¼ cup cashews
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
Instructions
Prepare the pumpkin:
- Prepare the pumpkin, wash it, then using a very sharp knife, carefully cut the cap out of the pumpkin. Clear away the seeds and the strings inside the pumpkin.
- To season the pumpkin, melt the butter, then add to it minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Brush that inside and outside the pumpkin.
Sear the steak:
- Cut the steak into strips, and season with pumpkin spice. On the Instant Pot, press on SAUTE and set for 10 minutes. Melt a piece of butter, and cook the steak strips until they're brown. Set the steak aside, and leave the juices in the pot. You might want to deglaze the pot at this point, just add 1/4 cup of vegetable stock or water and deglaze.
To make the rice:
- Add rinsed and pre-soaked rice to the Instant Pot, top with water until it covers the rice by 1 inch. Add a piece of butter, and 1 cinnamon stick. Cover the Instant Pot with the lid, set the vent on sealing position and press on MANUAL or HIGH PRESSURE, and set for 4 minutes.
- Allow the Instant Pot come to pressure, then let it do a natural release for 10 minutes. When that's done, quickly release the steam that is left, and carefully open the lid. Fluff the rice with a fork, and take it out and set aside.
Stuff the pumpkin and cook:
- Wash the Pot, and put it back in the Instant Pot with the trivet. Add 1 cup of water to the bottom of the pot.
- Stuff the pumpkin with rice, followed by the steak. Put the pumpkin cap back on, then put the pumpkin in the Instant Pot and cover the Instant Pot with the lid.
- Make sure that the vent is on sealing position, press on MANUAL or HIGH PRESSURE and set at 7 minutes. Allow the Instant Pot to come to pressure, and cook. When it's done, quickly release the steam and carefully open the lid. Allow it to cool down for a couple of minutes, then using the trivet handles take the pumpkin out.
- If you're finding it difficult to take out of the Instant Pot, just use a medium-sized plate to hold the pumpkin and discard the water. Then using the same method, turn the pumpkin over the plate, and put it on a serving plate. Add the toasted nuts and cranberries to the pumpkin.
- Cut the pumpkin into wedges or half-moons, and serve with rice, steak, and nuts. Garnish with chopped parsley leaves.
Video
Notes
- This recipe freezes well, divide into portions and freeze in freezer bags for up to 2 months.
- Defrost and reheat frozen stuffed pumpkin in the microwave or over the stovetop.
- I add a cinnamon stick to flavor the rice but feel free to add 1 tsp of pumpkin spice instead, or 1 tsp of ground cinnamon.
- When seasoning the pumpkin with the butter and garlic, make sure that you're brushing the mixture inside and outside of the pumpkin for extra flavor.
- Make your own Instant Pot vegetable stock.
- This recipe was tested in the 6-quart Instant Pot, if you're using an 8-quart then keep the time the same but add 2 cups of water to the Instant Pot when cooking the pumpkin instead of 1.
- To toast the nuts, either do this at the very beginning of the cooking and slightly brown them in the Instant Pot with a little bit of oil on SAUTE mode. Or do that in a pan over the stove.
Nutrition
Calories: 598kcal | Carbohydrates: 72g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 56mg | Sodium: 80mg | Potassium: 1101mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 19426IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 4mg
Find it online: https://littlesunnykitchen.com/instant-pot-stuffed-pumpkin/