- A bag of white basmati rice
- A bag of pine nuts
- 1 leek
- 2 garlic cloves
- A thumb of fresh ginger
- A handful of flat leaf parsley
- 6 cardamom pods
- 2 tsp fennel seeds
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 3 large winter squashes
- A splash of olive oil
- Sea salt
- Freshly ground pepper
- 750ml hot water
- A couple of bowls
- Large pan with a lid
- Bowl
- Chopping board
- Knife
- Garlic crusher (optional)
- Vegetable peeler
- Grater
- Wooden spoon
- Colander or sieve
- Measuring jug
- Large baking tray or roasting tin
- 1.
Tip the rice into a bowl. Pour in enough cold water to cover it. Put it aside to soak for 10-15 mins. Warm a dry pan over a medium heat. Add the pine nuts. Toast for 2 mins till golden. Keep shaking the pan so they don’t catch and burn. Tip into a bowl.
- 2.
Trim and rinse the leek. Finely slice it. Peel and grate or crush the garlic. Peel and grate the ginger. Finely chop the parsley leaves and stalks. Heat your oven to 200°C/Fan 180°C/Gas 6. Fill a kettle and boil it.
- 3.
Warm a splash of olive oil in the pan. Add the leek. Season with salt and pepper. Fry over a medium heat for 5-8 mins till the leek is soft and glossy. Keep stirring it while it cooks.
- 4.
Stir the garlic and ginger into the leek. Stir and fry for 1 min. Add the cardamom pods and 2 tsp each fennel seeds and cinnamon. Drain the rice and stir it into the pan.
- 5.
Pour in 750ml hot water from the kettle. Pop on the lid. Bring to the boil. Turn the heat down. Simmer for 5 mins till the rice is almost cooked and still a little wet.
- 6.
Slice the tops off the squashes to make lids. Scoop out the seeds. Stir the pine nuts and parsley into the rice. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Divide between the three squashes.
- 7.
Place the squashes on a baking tray or in a roasting tin. Put the lids back on the squashes. Roast in the middle of the oven for 50 mins till the squashes are tender when you pierce them with a skewer.
- 8.
Carefully move the squashes onto a platter or board. Serve them in slices with the Hot Chilli Tomato Sauce.
