Inspired by the many stuffed pumpkin and pilaf recipes out there, I wanted to create a version for Original Black Garlic that brought even more flavour to the table. Whole Original Black Garlic cloves melt into the fragrant spiced rice as it cooks, adding sweet, savoury depth alongside nuts and fruit. The small pumpkins are finished with a drizzle of Original Black Garlic Pickle, which cuts through the richness and takes the whole dish to another level. Baked and served in the pumpkin itself, it's an impressive vegetarian centrepiece that's perfect for Halloween gatherings or autumn dinners.
An easy win for an impressive centrepiece
One of the things I love most about this recipe is how adaptable it is. The pilaf can be taken in all sorts of directions depending on what you have to hand. Try adding different nuts, dried fruit, herbs or warming spices to make it your own. For me, the Original Black Garlic cloves are the real star of the show. The cloves soften into the rice as it cooks, bringing a deep, sweet umami flavour that ties all of the ingredients together and makes the whole dish feel richer and more complex. Paired with a drizzle of Original Black Garlic Pickle at the end, it's the ingredient that really makes everything sing.
