Cheesy Artichoke Pumpkin Dip

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I basically have nothing but food on the brain. All types, all courses. It’s practically manic (as if you haven’t noticed.)

Cheesy Artichoke Pumpkin Dip

And when I was at the grocery store this morning I kind of got obsessed with these mini pumpkins they had on display. And with the exception of one more pumpkin pie recipe (stay tuned for Friday) I had promised that I wouldn’t make any more pumpkin dishes. I am well aware that there has been an overload of pumpkin around here, and I guess (minus that pie of course) that I justified the purchase of the foresaid cute mini- pumpkin with the idea that whatever I made with it would be like my pumpkin finale (uh, minus the pie).

Cheesy Artichoke Pumpkin Dip

Ok, I will just move on to the cheesy artichoke dip that I baked into that cute little pumpkin. I still have tons of Feta cheese left over from my Greek food segment that I did last month. Before you get all grossed out- Feta lasts a really, really long time! I also had goat cheese, and to my delight, I found a nice can of artichoke hearts in the pantry. A tiny bit of garlic and chili rounded out the dip.

Cheesy Artichoke Pumpkin Dip

When you pile the dip in the pumpkin and slow bake it, the pumpkin gets really soft and then when you scoop the dip out with a cracker, you get part of the pumpkin too. It’s pretty awesome. Not to mention the festive display. Wouldn’t this be a great appetizer before Thanksgiving dinner?

To make this, this is what you do:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and get out a sheet pan.

Cut the top off of the pumpkin and reserve. Scrape out the insides and continue until all of the seeds and stringy insides are scraped clean. Place the cleaned out pumpkin and top on a sheet pan.

Cheesy Artichoke Pumpkin Dip

In the bowl of a food processor, combine the cheeses, chili and garlic. Puree until they are well blended.

Cheesy Artichoke Pumpkin Dip

Add the artichoke hearts and pulse a couple seconds until they are incorporated but still chunky.

Cheesy Artichoke Pumpkin Dip

Add a pinch of cayenne.

Cheesy Artichoke Pumpkin Dip

Transfer the cheese dip to the inside of the pumpkin.

Cheesy Artichoke Pumpkin Dip

(At this point you can put the top back on the pumpkin and refrigerate up to a day before roasting.)

Cheesy Artichoke Pumpkin Dip

Place the pumpkin on the sheet pan. Roast the pumpkin with the top on for 30 minutes, and then take the top of and broil until the top is golden and bubbly and the pumpkin is getting golden- another couple minutes.
Serve hot with crackers or baguette slices.

Cheesy Artichoke Pumpkin Dip

Recipe: Cheesy Artichoke Pumpkin DIp

Summary: makes 3 cups

Ingredients

  • -1 small sugar pumpkin
  • -14 ounces Feta Cheese
  • -4 ounces goat cheese
  • -1 red chili, finely chopped
  • -2 small garlic cloves, minced
  • -1 can artichoke hearts, rinsed and drained
  • -pinch of cayenne pepper

Instructions

  1. 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  2. 2. Cut the top off of the pumpkin and reserve. Scrape out the insides and continue until all of the seeds and stringy insides are scraped clean. Place the cleaned out pupkin and top on a sheet pan.
  3. 3. In the bowl of a food processor, combine the cheeses, chili and garlic. Puree until they are well blended.
  4. 4. Add the artichoke hearts and pulse a couple seconds until they are incorporated but still chunky.
  5. 5. Transfer the cheese dip to the inside of the pumpkin. (At this point you can put the top back on the pumpkin and refrigerate up to a day before roasting.)
  6. 6. Roast the pumpkin with the top on for 15 minutes, and then take the top of and continue roasting until the top is golden and bubbly and the pumpkin is getting golden- another 20 minutes.
  7. 7. Serve hot with crackers or baguette slices.

Preparation time: 10 minute(s)

Cooking time: 35 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield): 8

 

Print Recipe  

Cheesy Artichoke Pumpkin Dip

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I basically have nothing but food on the brain. All types, all courses. It’s practically manic (as if you haven’t noticed.)

Cheesy Artichoke Pumpkin Dip

And when I was at the grocery store this morning I kind of got obsessed with these mini pumpkins they had on display. And with the exception of one more pumpkin pie recipe (stay tuned for Friday) I had promised that I wouldn’t make any more pumpkin dishes. I am well aware that there has been an overload of pumpkin around here, and I guess (minus that pie of course) that I justified the purchase of the foresaid cute mini- pumpkin with the idea that whatever I made with it would be like my pumpkin finale (uh, minus the pie).

Cheesy Artichoke Pumpkin Dip

Ok, I will just move on to the cheesy artichoke dip that I baked into that cute little pumpkin. I still have tons of Feta cheese left over from my Greek food segment that I did last month. Before you get all grossed out- Feta lasts a really, really long time! I also had goat cheese, and to my delight, I found a nice can of artichoke hearts in the pantry. A tiny bit of garlic and chili rounded out the dip.

Cheesy Artichoke Pumpkin Dip

When you pile the dip in the pumpkin and slow bake it, the pumpkin gets really soft and then when you scoop the dip out with a cracker, you get part of the pumpkin too. It’s pretty awesome. Not to mention the festive display. Wouldn’t this be a great appetizer before Thanksgiving dinner?

To make this, this is what you do:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and get out a sheet pan.

Cut the top off of the pumpkin and reserve. Scrape out the insides and continue until all of the seeds and stringy insides are scraped clean. Place the cleaned out pumpkin and top on a sheet pan.

Cheesy Artichoke Pumpkin Dip

In the bowl of a food processor, combine the cheeses, chili and garlic. Puree until they are well blended.

Cheesy Artichoke Pumpkin Dip

Add the artichoke hearts and pulse a couple seconds until they are incorporated but still chunky.

Cheesy Artichoke Pumpkin Dip

Add a pinch of cayenne.

Cheesy Artichoke Pumpkin Dip

Transfer the cheese dip to the inside of the pumpkin.

Cheesy Artichoke Pumpkin Dip

(At this point you can put the top back on the pumpkin and refrigerate up to a day before roasting.)

Cheesy Artichoke Pumpkin Dip

Place the pumpkin on the sheet pan. Roast the pumpkin with the top on for 30 minutes, and then take the top of and broil until the top is golden and bubbly and the pumpkin is getting golden- another couple minutes.
Serve hot with crackers or baguette slices.

Cheesy Artichoke Pumpkin Dip

Recipe: Cheesy Artichoke Pumpkin DIp

Summary: makes 3 cups

Ingredients

  • -1 small sugar pumpkin
  • -14 ounces Feta Cheese
  • -4 ounces goat cheese
  • -1 red chili, finely chopped
  • -2 small garlic cloves, minced
  • -1 can artichoke hearts, rinsed and drained
  • -pinch of cayenne pepper

Instructions

  1. 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  2. 2. Cut the top off of the pumpkin and reserve. Scrape out the insides and continue until all of the seeds and stringy insides are scraped clean. Place the cleaned out pupkin and top on a sheet pan.
  3. 3. In the bowl of a food processor, combine the cheeses, chili and garlic. Puree until they are well blended.
  4. 4. Add the artichoke hearts and pulse a couple seconds until they are incorporated but still chunky.
  5. 5. Transfer the cheese dip to the inside of the pumpkin. (At this point you can put the top back on the pumpkin and refrigerate up to a day before roasting.)
  6. 6. Roast the pumpkin with the top on for 15 minutes, and then take the top of and continue roasting until the top is golden and bubbly and the pumpkin is getting golden- another 20 minutes.
  7. 7. Serve hot with crackers or baguette slices.

Preparation time: 10 minute(s)

Cooking time: 35 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield): 8