Smoked Mini Pumpkins with Wild Rice, Pear and Sausage Stuffing

Those pretty little mini pumpkins that you picked up for décor? Cook them! These make adorable side items, and are so flavorful! The stuffing can be made ahead by a day to make dinner prep easier.
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Smoked Mini Pumpkins with Wild Rice, Pear and Sausage Stuffing


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup Wild rice blend
  • 2 cups chicken stock
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1/2 onion (diced)
  • 1 tbsp celery (diced)
  • 1 tbsp garlic (minced)
  • 2 pears (firm, roughly chopped)
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt (or, to taste)
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper (or, to taste)
  • 1 tbsp fresh sage (diced)
  • 1/2 lb Country-style sausage (cooked, drained, and crumbled)

Instructions

  1. Add the rice and 2 cups chicken stock to a stockpot. Bring to boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook for 30 minutes, or until rice is tender and stock is absorbed. Add more stock or water if necessary during cooking.
  2. Pour rice onto sheet pan and allow to cool. Cook, crumble and drain sausage. Allow to cool.
  3. Cut the pumpkin about 1/3 of the way from the top and remove the cap. Scrape out any seeds and strings. Lightly season the inside of the pumpkin, then fill with stuffing. Sprinkle approximately 1 teaspoon of chopped pecans over the top of stuffing. Place in smoker over indirect heat at 275 degrees for 1 ½ – 2 hours, or until pumpkins are tender.
  4. In the last few minutes of cooking, you can sprinkle the stuffing with cheese, bacon, or chopped pecans, if desired.