Video and recipe by @theiranianvegan on Instagram
Ghapama is a traditional Armenian delicacy made by the Armenian community of Iran normally around the Armenian Christmas celebrated on January 6.
- Medium sized pumpkin
- Handful of walnuts, pistachios, almonds
- Handful of pitted dates, dried apricot and raisins 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tbsp agave syrup/maple syrup/honey
- 1/6 tsp saffron dissolved in
- 1/4 cup boiling water
- 2 cups basmati rice
Method:
Cut the top off the pumpkin and remove the seeds from the inside. Brush inside and outside with oil.
Half cook the rice – boil 2 cups of rice with 1 tbsp salt and water until half cooked. Drain and wash with cold water. Set aside. Roughly chop the nuts and dried fruits.
Sautee in some oil for a few minutes. Add cinnamon, nutmeg and syrup.Layer the rice, and toasted nut mixture inside the pumpkin.
For every layer add a sprinkle of cinnamon and nutmeg, and some saffron water. Once the pumpkin is full, add the lid back on.Bake at 180 for an hour or until the pumpkin is cooked through.
