Millet-stuffed Pumpkin with Hazelnut Broccoli Pesto
Millet-stuffed pumpkin with hazelnut broccoli pesto is a showstopping vegetarian main course where tender pumpkin halves are filled with fluffy millet, sweet raisins and a vibrant green pesto. The TM7 grinds the hazelnuts, blends the broccoli pesto and steams everything to perfection, making this impressive autumn centrepiece surprisingly simple to prepare.
About this recipe
Millet-stuffed pumpkin with hazelnut broccoli pesto is a recipe for the Thermomix TM7 that turns simple autumn vegetables into a vegetarian main course worthy of a festive table. Pumpkin halves become edible bowls filled with fluffy millet, sweet raisins and caramelised onion, all topped with a vivid green pesto made from steamed broccoli and freshly ground hazelnuts. The all-in-one kitchen machine takes care of nearly every step: the grinder turns whole hazelnuts into a coarse, aromatic meal while the mixing blade blends the broccoli, garlic and olive oil into a silky sauce without a single chopping board. This is the kind of quick weeknight dinner that also works as a plant-based centrepiece when friends come over, since the pumpkins can be stuffed in advance and finished in the oven. If you have been searching for pumpkin recipes that go beyond soup, this stuffed pumpkin delivers sweetness, nuttiness and a hint of garlic in every spoonful.
Preparation tips
- Choose small culinary pumpkins such as Hokkaido or a smooth orange variety, and scoop the seeds out thoroughly so the millet filling sits snugly inside the cavity while it bakes.
- Toast the hazelnuts in a dry pan before grinding them in the mixing bowl; this deepens the pesto's nutty flavour and makes the skins easier to rub off by hand.
- Cook the millet until the grains are tender but still separate, then fold in the raisins and onion just before filling the pumpkins so the sweetness stays distinct rather than mushy.
Recipe variations
- Make it fully vegan by ensuring the pesto contains only olive oil, hazelnuts, broccoli and garlic, and drizzling the stuffed pumpkins with a little maple syrup before roasting for extra caramelisation.
- For a festive winter version, replace the raisins with dried cranberries and add roasted chestnuts to the millet filling, giving the stuffed pumpkin a holiday flavour that pairs well with a fresh leafy salad.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- The TM7 grinds the hazelnuts into a coarse, aromatic meal for the pesto in seconds, far quicker than a hand grinder. [Multi-Function]
- Thanks to the built-in scale, you weigh the millet grains directly in the mixing bowl, ensuring the correct ratio for fluffy stuffing every time. [Time Savings]
- Gentle steaming in the Varoma keeps the broccoli florets vividly green and tender-crisp for a fresher-tasting pesto. [Multi-Function]
- The Thermomix blends the broccoli pesto into a silky, even sauce without any manual stirring or lumps. [Multi-Function]
- Precise heating softens the onions and garlic evenly for the millet filling, with no risk of burning the olive oil. [Precision Control]
Ingredients
- pumpkins
- olive oil
- fine sea salt
- garlic cloves
- onions
- olive oil
- millet grains
- raisins
- water
- ground cumin