Armenian Ghapama
Hey Jan Ghapama! A stunning, simple centerpiece for your next dinner party
As someone who has hosted many dinners, you’d think I’d learn to keep things simple….. But there I am, 30 minutes before guests arrive, pacing my kitchen trying to simultaneously finish 4 dishes while setting the table. Too often I’ve been overly ambitious, putting out more dishes than guests and spending all day doing it.
With my recent move, I finally have a space I can’t wait to host in. As I continue to set up the apartment, I’ve been rethinking how I cook for parties. This year, it’s all about reducing stress and prep time so I can be a more present host and enjoy myself.
No one wants to arrive at a dinner where your host is still frantically hand-mixing aioli while trying to catch up. That’s why I’m on a pursuit to find some simple, show-stopping large format dishes. Recipes that can come together with a little bit of prep, made before your guests arrive, and finished in the oven.
I’m starting this series with a dish so beloved, there’s a song about it. Ghapama is an Armenian rice stuffed pumpkin typically served during the holidays. Fun fact: Armenians celebrate Christmas on January 6th. Christians celebrated this holiday on the 6th until the 4th century when the date was changed to try and put an end to a Pagan feast that was celebrated during this time. Paganism did not exist in Armenia so it was never changed.
Traditionally, this is a sweet leaning dish. Honey, nuts, dried fruits, and spices are added to the rice perfuming your kitchen with an irresistible fragrance as it comes out of the oven. The proportion of honey and dried fruit in the recipe below is not overwhelming and it can absolutely be served with other savory dishes. I was honestly surprised how much I enjoyed the flavor and think it’s a great compliment to things like whole roasted fish or spiced cauliflower. But, if this doesn’t sound like your jam, feel free to switch things up if you want a more savory dish. A few initial thoughts…..
Savory Spiced Caramelized Onion
Cumin seed, coriander seed, fennel seed, all spice, nigella seed
Herby Pilaf
parsley, dill, pine nuts, slivered almonds, shallots
Spicy Tomato
Pepper paste or harissa, roasted tomato, paprika, garlic
Lastly, there are a variety of pumpkins out there and most work well for this application. I used a Long Island Cheese pumpkin but other great options could be Cinderella, Jarrahdale, Fairytale, and Sugar.