Pumpkin and Cheddar Stuffed Pork

We had some leftover pumpkin and cheddar mixture from our Pumpkin Cheddar Ravioli with Honey Cranberry Cream Sauce, and we wanted to find a fun way to use it. For this meal, we still used it as a filling, but instead of pasta, we used pork! This would make for a great meal for a brisk autumn day.

We served this with Shaved Brussels Sprouts and Roasted Baby Potatoes. However, we think that Butter Cabbage would be a winner as a side dish as well.

Time: 45 Minutes (more if prepping fresh pumpkin from scratch)

Ingredients:

  • Boneless Pork Loin Chops
  • Pumpkin (Fresh or Canned)
  • Shredded Cheddar (We used Goat Cheddar)
  • Black Pepper
  • Optional: A little chipotle chili powder

Method:

  • Prep your pumpkin:
    • If using fresh pumpkin:
      • Cut your pumpkin open, scoop out the seeds, and cut into chunks. (Check out the Pumpkin part of This Recipe for additional pumpkin processing information)
      • Boil until soft.
      • Mash, and let cool.
    • If using canned pumpkin, scoop some from the can into a bowl.
  • Mix your shredded pumpkin and cheddar together, and set aside.
  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Hold your boneless pork loin chops upright, so that the long side with the fat is facing your cutting board. Then, carefully cut a slit in the top, and work your knife to hollow out a cavity in your pork.
  • Scoop your pumpkin, and stuff into your pork so it overflows nicely. Do this with all of your pork.
    • Sidenote: we had too much filling, so we used one spoonful to stuff one of our porks, washed our hands, and used a clean spoon to scoop and stuff the other. That prevented cross-contamination and allowed us to use the rest of the pumpkin later for another meal (omelet).
  • Heat a cast iron pan with a little butter or olive oil, and when it’s hot, add your pork upright, and sear for about 4-5 minutes.
  • Transfer your pan to the oven, and roast for about 35 minutes until your pork reaches a minimum internal temperature of 145-150 degrees F.
  • Plate, devour, and enjoy!

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