Ghapama (Armenian Festive Baked Pumpkin Stuffed with Spiced Rice, Apricots & Walnuts) – Authentic Armenia Recipe
So beloved in Armenia it has its own folk song ("Hey Jan Ghapama"): jewel-like fruit-and-nut rice baked inside sweet pumpkin.
- Country of Origin
- 🇦🇲 Armenia (Caucasus, Asia)
- Dietary Profile
- vegan
- Prep Time
- 20 min
- Cook Time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Signature Staples
- Sugar pumpkin wedges or hollowed pumpkin, Basmati rice, Dried apricots, Ground cinnamon, Allspice
Ingredients for Ghapama (Armenian Festive Baked Pumpkin Stuffed with Spiced Rice, Apricots & Walnuts) (4 Servings)
- 1.25 lbs (or 2.5 cups) sugar pumpkin wedges or hollowed pumpkin, prepped into bite-sized pieces
- 1.5 cups basmati rice, washed and trimmed
- 1 cup dried apricots
- 1 medium onion and 3 cloves garlic, finely minced with ground cinnamon
- 1.5 tbsp traditional Armenia seasoning (allspice, cardamom, maple/honey glaze)
- 2.5 tbsp traditional cooking oil, sea salt, cracked black pepper, and fresh citrus or herbs
Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions
- Preheat oven to 390°F (200°C) and lightly oil an ovenproof skillet or baking dish.
- In a skillet over medium heat, sauté onion, garlic, ground cinnamon, and allspice, cardamom, maple/honey glaze for 3 minutes until fragrant.
- Combine sugar pumpkin wedges or hollowed pumpkin and basmati rice with the sautéed aromatics and layer evenly into the baking dish.
- Top with dried apricots and bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes until bubbling and golden brown on top.
- Let rest 5 minutes before serving warm at the table.