STUFFED KAMOKAMO (OR MARROW) with Lentils & Preserved Lemon

7th February 2019

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It is the season of large kamokamo and marrows. This is my first season growing kamokamo and will certainly not be the last. This heritage squash has so much edible potential. Harvest the small fruit and flowers to saute like zucchini, or grate to make into fritters with feta and mint.

Later in the season when they are marrow-sized and the skin toughens, kamokamo is best roasted. The flesh, once cooked, becomes buttery and subtly sweet, with more nuance of flavour than its milder cousin, the marrow. The cooked flesh can be scooped from the tough outer skin and mashed with a knob of butter. Or make a flavoursome stuffing as I share below.

And what fun they are to grow. While other squash quietly meanders along the ground, much to my delight the kamokamo is growing up the lemon tree and over the bean frame. I am learning to embrace a wild and plentiful garden, over the more orderly rows of my early gardening days.

STUFFED KAMOKAMO (OR MARROW) with Lentils & Preserved Lemon

Lentils add extra protein to this vegetable-packed meal neatly complemented with bold flavours from preserved lemon and feta.

Servings 6

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 50 minutes mins

Ingredients

• 1 large kamokamo or marrow about 1.5kg
• Salt and pepper
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 red onion finely diced
• 4 garlic cloves finely chopped
• 1 red pepper capsicum, diced
• 1 zucchini diced
• 2 teaspoons oregano
• Pinch of chilli flakes
• 2 cups cooked brown lentils – see below
• 1/2 preserved lemon rind finely chopped
• 150 g feta crumbled

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
• Prepare the kamokamo or marrow by cutting lengthways, and scoop out and compost the seeds (kamokamo). Season the cut side generously with salt and pepper, and drizzle with olive oil. Arrange cut side down in a roasting dish, and bake for about 30 minutes until the flesh is tender when pierced with a knife.
• Heat two tablespoons of olive oil in a frying pan over a moderate heat. Add the onion and cook for five minutes. Add the garlic, pepper, zucchini, oregano, and chilli, and cook for 10 minutes until soft and fragrant. Drain the cooked lentils (canned can be used), and add to the vegetables, along with the preserved lemon and 100g feta. Cook for a further five minutes and check seasoning.
• Remove the kamokamo or marrow from the oven, flip the pieces so cut side is up. If using marrow, at this stage scoop out some of the cooked flesh leaving a 2cm edge. Chop the flesh and stir into the lentils mixture. Scoop the filling into the kamokamo or marrow cavity, scatter with the remaining feta and drizzle with olive oil. Return to the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
• Serve immediately accompanied by a simple salad of avocado, cherry tomatoes and basil.

Notes

The filling/stuffing can also be prepared with 500g beef or lamb mince instead of lentils (or a mixture of both). In step 3, once the onions have been cooking for 5 minutes add the mince to the pan along with 2 tablespoons of tomato paste. Once the mince has browned, add the zucchini and peppers, etc, and continue with the recipe. 

Perfectly cooked lentils

Lentils are easy to cook when armed with a few tricks to make them easier to digest and taste great. I prepare a large pot of two to three cups of dried lentils at a time. Once cooked, I freeze* into one-to-two cup portions to thaw as needed to add to meals. I use this method for brown, green puy and beluga lentils.

To prepare: Soak the lentils overnight or for at least eight hours. Drain and rinse well in a sieve. Place in a large saucepan and cover with twice the water. Add a bay leaf, slice of tomato, or pinch of cumin to subtly flavour the lentils and soften the skins during cooking. Bring to a gentle boil, then remove the lid and simmer for 15-20 minutes until tender.

Remove from the heat and stir through a ½ teaspoon salt per cup of dried lentils used. Leave to cool as the salt gently infuses the lentils. *Freeze lentils with cooking water or they will dry out.