Today's recipe is made with pumpkin (moranga in portuguese). Pumpkins are very rich in vitamins B, C and E, fiber, calcium, phosphorus, iron and potassium.
For this recipe, we will not use the pumpkin seeds, but no need to throw them away, as they are very healthy. Pumpkin seeds are rich in potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, fiber, magnesium and vitamins A, B3 and E. Its oil is a rich source of Omega 3. It also has high levels of protein, which helps in weight loss, and tryptophan amino acid which in the body converts to serotonin, helping to ensure a quiet night's sleep. You can toast and use them later to prepare for example delicious salads.

Shrimps in a pumpkin

Ingredients:

• 1 big pumpkin
• 4 garlic cloves finely minced
• 1½ onion finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 kg medium shrimps, peeled and deveined
• 2 chopped tomatoes
• 140 ml tomato purée
• 1 can (approx 200 ml) media crema (table cream)
• 1 cup (approx. 200 ml) cream cheese spread
• 3 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
• Juice of half a lemon
• Malagueta pepper or your favorite kind of pepper
• Salt and pepper (season to taste)
• Grated parmesan cheese

Preparation:

Pumpkin

1. Wash and scrub the pumpkin
2. Cut off the top and remove all the seeds (don`t throw the top away)
3. Anoint the pumpkin inside and outside with olive oil
4. Knead 2 cloves garlic, with ½ onion, salt, pepper and 2 tablespoons olive oil
5. Rub this paste inside the pumpkin, close it with the top
6. Wrap the pumpkin with aluminum foil and put it in a preheated oven at 350 °F / 180 °C
7. Cook it for about 40 minutes until the inside is soft

Filling

In the meantime that the pumpkin is in the oven:

1. Season the prawns with salt, pepper and lemon juice
2. Sauté the prawns in a hot frying pan with olive oil, not too long, only so long, that they get some color, don’t cook them
3. Set them aside
4. Sauté the remaining onion, garlic and add the tomatoes, tomato purée and let it cook for 10 minutes
5. Add the parsley, the pepper, the media cream, the cream cheese spread and the prawns, season withsalt

Final

1. When the pumpkin is ready, take it out the oven and heat the oven to 450 °F / 230 °C
2. Now pour the shrimp mixture into the pumpkin
3. Return the filled pumpkin with the parmesan cheese sprinkled on top to the oven and back it for 20 minutes or until the cheese is golden
4. Serve it along with rice and salad

And here how it should look if everything goes as planned:

I hope you enjoyed once again my recipe. The only thing that`s left to me to say:

"Good luck with the cooking and enjoy your meal!"

As always if you have any questions, you can just ask me. I am happy to see you here soon with another delicious recipe.

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Até Mais!