Fullmeals
HomeExploreCreatorsPantry MatchSurprise Me
HomeExploreCreatorsPantry MatchSurprise MeShopping ListMy Favorites
Fullmeals

Fullmeals helps you cook without watching by converting cooking videos into simple, step-by-step recipes designed for real kitchens.

cook@fullmeals.com

Quick Links

  • How it Works
  • Categories
  • Explore Recipes
  • RSS Feed

Legal

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy

© 2026 Fullmeals. All rights reserved.

Fullmeals

Instant Pot Best Biryani Stuffed Pumpkin – Middle Eastern Style

Recipe by Cooking For Fun The Mesopotamian Flavors

  • Ready in135 min
  • Prep60 min
  • Cook75 min
  • CuisineMiddle Eastern · Mesopotamian
  • Serves6 People
  • Calories~700 kcal
Instant Pot Best Biryani Stuffed Pumpkin – Middle Eastern Style

Ingredients

For the Chicken

  • 1 (cubed)Chicken breast
  • 1 TbspOlive oil
  • 1/2 tspSalt
  • 1/4 tspBlack pepper
  • 1/2 tspArabic Mix Spices (Seven Spice Blend)

For the Mini Meatballs

  • 1 lbGround beef
  • 1 (grated)Garlic clove
  • 1 tspArabic Mix Spices (Seven Spice Blend)
  • 1 tspSalt
  • 1/2 tspBlack pepper
  • 1/4 cupWater

For the Rice

  • 1 cup (washed and soaked for 20 minutes)Basmati rice
  • 1 TbspOlive oil
  • 1/2 TbspArabic Mix Spices (Seven Spice Blend)
  • 1/4 tspTurmeric
  • 1/4 tspCinnamon
  • 1/4 tspCardamom
  • 2 cupsChicken broth or water

For the Pumpkin & Stuffing Components

  • 1 medium (fits in 6 qt Instant Pot)Pumpkin
  • 1/2 cupSlivered almonds
  • 1/2 cupRaisins
  • 1 cupFrozen green peas
  • 1 medium (cubed)Potato
  • 2 TbspOlive oil
  • for garnishHard-boiled eggs

For Pumpkin Interior Brush

  • 1/2 tspCinnamon
  • 2 TbspHoney
  • 1 TbspOlive oil
  • PinchSalt
  • PinchBlack pepper

For Instant Pot Cooking

  • 1 1/2 cupsWater

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. 1.Prepare the Chicken

    Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a pan. Add cubed chicken breast, season with 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, and 1/2 tsp Arabic Mix Spices. Cook until lightly browned and cooked through. Set aside.

  2. 2.Make Mini Meatballs

    In a bowl, combine 1 lb ground beef, 1 grated garlic clove, 1 tsp Arabic Mix Spices, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Mix well. Form into mini meatballs.

  3. 3.Cook Meatballs

    Place meatballs in a pan, add 1/4 cup water, cover, and cook until water evaporates. Uncover and cook until lightly toasted. Set aside.

  4. 4.Fry Almonds and Raisins

    In a pan, fry 1/2 cup slivered almonds until golden brown. Add 1/2 cup raisins and fry until plump. Set aside.

  5. 5.Cook Green Peas

    In a pan, add 1 cup frozen green peas, cover with water, and add a pinch of salt. Cook until soft. Set aside.

  6. 6.Fry Potatoes

    Heat 2 Tbsp olive oil in a pot. Add cubed potato and fry until golden brown. Set aside.

  7. 7.Cook Basmati Rice

    In the same pot with remaining oil from potatoes, add 1 cup washed and soaked basmati rice. Fry until lightly toasted. Add 1/2 Tbsp Arabic Mix Spices, 1/4 tsp turmeric, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, and 1/4 tsp cardamom. Mix well. Pour in 2 cups chicken broth or water. Cover and bring to a boil on high heat, then lower the heat to minimum and cook for 20 minutes.

  8. 8.Prepare the Pumpkin

    Cut the stem off the pumpkin so it fits in the Instant Pot. Cut the top off the pumpkin and clean out all seeds and pulp.

  9. 9.Brush Pumpkin Interior

    In a small bowl, mix 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 2 Tbsp honey, 1 Tbsp olive oil, a pinch of salt, and black pepper. Brush this mixture generously inside the pumpkin and on the lid.

  10. 10.Assemble Biryani Stuffing

    In a large bowl, combine the cooked rice, chicken, meatballs, fried potatoes, fried almonds, cooked peas, and fried raisins. Mix everything thoroughly.

  11. 11.Stuff the Pumpkin

    Carefully spoon the biryani mixture into the prepared pumpkin, pressing down gently to fill it as much as possible. Place the pumpkin lid back on.

  12. 12.Pressure Cook the Pumpkin

    Pour 1 1/2 cups of water into the Instant Pot liner. Place the trivet inside, then carefully lower the stuffed pumpkin onto the trivet. Close the Instant Pot lid, ensure the sealing ring is in place, and the valve is on the sealing position. Pressure cook on High Pressure for 15 minutes.

  13. 13.Natural Pressure Release

    Once cooking is complete, allow a Natural Pressure Release (NPR) for 6-10 minutes. Then, manually release any remaining pressure.

  14. 14.Serve

    Carefully remove the pumpkin from the Instant Pot. Cut the pumpkin into slices and serve the biryani. Garnish with hard-boiled eggs. Enjoy!

Printed from Fullmeals.com — turn any cooking video into a recipe.

Instant Pot Best Biryani Stuffed Pumpkin – Middle Eastern Style

Ready in

135 mins

Cuisine

Middle Eastern · Mesopotamian

Prep Time

60 min

Cook Time

75 min

Serving

6 People

Calories / Serving

~700 kcal
Recipe by Cooking For Fun The Mesopotamian Flavors on YouTube
Instant Pot Best Biryani Stuffed Pumpkin – Middle Eastern Style
Adjust Servings
Measurements
Tap an ingredient to mark it ready0 of 31 ready
All Ingredients

For the Chicken

All Ingredients

For the Mini Meatballs

All Ingredients

For the Rice

All Ingredients

For the Pumpkin & Stuffing Components

All Ingredients

For Pumpkin Interior Brush

All Ingredients

For Instant Pot Cooking

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow each step to make the recipe successfully.

  1. 1

    Prepare the Chicken

    Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a pan. Add cubed chicken breast, season with 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, and 1/2 tsp Arabic Mix Spices. Cook until lightly browned and cooked through. Set aside.

  2. 2

    Make Mini Meatballs

    In a bowl, combine 1 lb ground beef, 1 grated garlic clove, 1 tsp Arabic Mix Spices, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Mix well. Form into mini meatballs.

  3. 3

    Cook Meatballs

    Place meatballs in a pan, add 1/4 cup water, cover, and cook until water evaporates. Uncover and cook until lightly . Set aside.

  4. 4

    Fry Almonds and Raisins

    In a pan, fry 1/2 cup slivered almonds until golden brown. Add 1/2 cup raisins and fry until plump. Set aside.

  5. 5

    Cook Green Peas

    In a pan, add 1 cup frozen green peas, cover with water, and add a pinch of salt. Cook until soft. Set aside.

  6. 6

    Fry Potatoes

    Heat 2 Tbsp olive oil in a pot. Add cubed potato and fry until golden brown. Set aside.

  7. 7

    Cook Basmati Rice

    In the same pot with remaining oil from potatoes, add 1 cup washed and soaked basmati rice. Fry until lightly . Add 1/2 Tbsp Arabic Mix Spices, 1/4 tsp turmeric, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, and 1/4 tsp cardamom. Mix well. Pour in 2 cups chicken broth or water. Cover and bring to a boil on high heat, then lower the heat to minimum and cook for .

  8. 8

    Prepare the Pumpkin

    Cut the stem off the pumpkin so it fits in the Instant Pot. Cut the top off the pumpkin and clean out all seeds and pulp.

  9. 9

    Brush Pumpkin Interior

    In a small bowl, mix 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 2 Tbsp honey, 1 Tbsp olive oil, a pinch of salt, and black pepper. Brush this mixture generously inside the pumpkin and on the lid.

  10. 10

    Assemble Biryani Stuffing

    In a large bowl, combine the cooked rice, chicken, meatballs, fried potatoes, fried almonds, cooked peas, and fried raisins. Mix everything thoroughly.

  11. 11

    Stuff the Pumpkin

    Carefully spoon the biryani mixture into the prepared pumpkin, pressing down gently to fill it as much as possible. Place the pumpkin lid back on.

  12. 12

    Pressure Cook the Pumpkin

    Pour 1 1/2 cups of water into the Instant Pot liner. Place the trivet inside, then carefully lower the stuffed pumpkin onto the trivet. Close the Instant Pot lid, ensure the sealing ring is in place, and the valve is on the sealing position. Pressure cook on High Pressure for .

  13. 13

    Natural Pressure Release

    Once cooking is complete, allow a Natural Pressure Release (NPR) for . Then, manually release any remaining pressure.

  14. 14

    Serve

    Carefully remove the pumpkin from the Instant Pot. Cut the pumpkin into slices and serve the biryani. Garnish with hard-boiled eggs. Enjoy!

Before You Cook

Helpful details before you start
Spice LevelMild
Black pepper
Ingredient SubstitutionsMissing something? View suitable alternatives.
View 3 swaps
  • No Garlic (fresh)?

    • 1/4 tsp garlic powder (per clove)
    • 1/2 tsp garlic granules (per clove)
  • No Egg?

    • 1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water (rest 5 min) — Per egg, best in baking.
    • 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce — Per egg, in sweet baked goods.
    • 1/4 cup silken tofu, blended — Per egg.
  • No Honey?

    • Maple syrup (1:1)
    • 1 1/4 cup sugar + 1/4 cup water (per 1 cup honey)
Ingredient Substitutions
  • No Garlic (fresh)?

    • 1/4 tsp garlic powder (per clove)
    • 1/2 tsp garlic granules (per clove)
  • No Egg?

    • 1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water (rest 5 min) — Per egg, best in baking.
    • 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce — Per egg, in sweet baked goods.
    • 1/4 cup silken tofu, blended — Per egg.
  • No Honey?

    • Maple syrup (1:1)
    • 1 1/4 cup sugar + 1/4 cup water (per 1 cup honey)
AllergensThis recipe contains nuts (almonds).
Nuts (almonds)

Helpful Tips

Small details that can improve the final result.

  • 1
    PreparationSoak Basmati Rice for 20

    Soak basmati rice for 20 minutes for best results.

  • 2
    Cooking tipCut the Pumpkin Stem to

    Cut the pumpkin stem to ensure it fits properly in your Instant Pot.

  • 3
    Flavour tipBrush the Pumpkin Interior with the Honey

    Cinnamon-oil mixture for added flavor and moisture.

  • 4
    TipPress the Biryani Mixture Well

    Press the biryani mixture well into the pumpkin to ensure it's packed tightly.

  • 5
    Cooking tipAllow a Natural Pressure Release (npr) for 6

    10 minutes after cooking the pumpkin for optimal texture.

Was this recipe helpful?

Comments (0)

Sign in to leave a comment on this recipe.

Loading comments...

You might also like

Other recipes in the same cuisine, meal type, or style — ready to cook whenever you are.

Methi Chicken - Indian Style

Methi Chicken - Indian Style

Cuisine

Indian · North Indian

Prep + Cook Time

1 hr

Difficulty Level

Medium

Creamy Cheesy Chicken and Potatoes Skillet

Creamy Cheesy Chicken and Potatoes Skillet

Cuisine

Western

Prep + Cook Time

50 Minutes

Difficulty Level

Medium

Hyderabadi Chicken Dum Biryani – Traditional Style

Hyderabadi Chicken Dum Biryani – Traditional Style

Cuisine

Indian · Hyderabadi

Prep + Cook Time

1 hr 45 min

Difficulty Level

Medium

Coimbatore Home-Style Chicken Biryani

Coimbatore Home-Style Chicken Biryani

Cuisine

Indian · South Indian

Prep + Cook Time

1 hr 30 min

Difficulty Level

Medium

Spicy Chicken Macaroni

Spicy Chicken Macaroni

Cuisine

Asian Fusion · Pakistani

Prep + Cook Time

40 Minutes

Difficulty Level

Easy

Homemade Soft Chapati – Indian Flatbread

Homemade Soft Chapati – Indian Flatbread

Cuisine

Indian · North Indian

Prep + Cook Time

35 Minutes

Difficulty Level

Easy