Pumpkin Stuffed With Vegetable Stew

• 1 fennel bulb with fronds
• 2 medium parsnips (1/2 pound total), peeled, quartered, cored, and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1/2 pound celery root (sometimes called celeriac; 1/2 of 1 medium), peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 3 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 14 small shallots (about 1 pound), peeled and left whole, plus 1/2 cup chopped
• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided 2 red bell peppers
• 1 (8- to 9-lb) pumpkin (preferably cheese, pie, or Sweet Meat variety)
• , heated
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 pound fresh cremini mushrooms, trimmed and halved
• 1/4 pound fresh chanterelle mushrooms, trimmed
• 1 pound seitan (seasoned wheat gluten), cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 teaspoon chopped thyme, divided
• 1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest

1. Preheat oven to 450u0b0F with rack in middle. Chop enough fennel fronds to measure 1 tablespoon and reserve, then discard stalks and remaining fronds. Halve bulb lengthwise, then core and cut lengthwise into 1-inch wedges.
2. Toss fennel wedges, parsnips, celery root, carrots, and whole shallots with 2 tablespoons oil, teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a 17- by 12-inch shallow baking pan until coated, then roast, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned and almost tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove vegetables from oven. Leave oven on.
3. Roast peppers on racks of gas burners over high heat, turning with tongs, until skins are blistered, 5 to 8 minutes.
4. Transfer peppers to a bowl and let stand, covered, until cool enough to handle. Peel peppers and discard stems and seeds. Cut peppers lengthwise into 1-inch strips.
5. Remove top of pumpkin by cutting a circle (6 inches in diameter) around stem with a small sharp knife. Scrape out and discard seeds and any loose fibers from inside pumpkin with a spoon (including top of pumpkin; do not discard top), then sprinkle flesh with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Put pumpkin in a large roasting pan.
6. Pour 1 1/2 cups sauce into pumpkin and cover with top, then brush all over with remaining tablespoon oil. Roast 1 hour.
7. While pumpkin roasts, heat butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until foam subsides, then saute chopped shallots until softened. Add mushrooms and saute until they are browned and begin to give off liquid, about 8 minutes. Add wheat gluten and 1/2 teaspoon thyme, then stir in 1 1/2 cups more sauce and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat and fold in roasted root vegetables and peppers, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper.
8. After pumpkin has roasted 1 hour, spoon vegetable filling into it, then cover with top. Roast until pumpkin is tender when pierced with a fork, vegetables are tender, and filling is hot, about 30 minutes more. Transfer pumpkin to a platter using 2 sturdy metal spatulas.
9. Stir together fennel fronds, parsley, zest, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon thyme and sprinkle half of it over filling. Stir remainder into remaining sauce and serve sauce on the side.

parsnips, celery, carrots, shallots, olive oil, pumpkin, unsalted butter, cremini mushrooms, chanterelle mushrooms, seitan, thyme, flatleaf parsley, lemon zest

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/pumpkin-stuffed-with-vegetable-stew-240601 (may not work)