Today I am going to show you how to make stuffed kumara's. Because it is like a potato you could also use this recipe to make stuffed potatoes. Also you can change the recipe according to your taste.

Step 1: Cleaning the Kumara's

When you buy your kumara's you want to make sure they are a good size, not to long and not to wide. Using a little brush, rub the kumara skin in some water until you have all of the dirt of and it looks nice an clean.

Once the kumara's are clean, using a fork or a knife to prick holes all over them, now you don't have to prick as many holes as I did, just a few all over. Place the kumara's on an oven tray and bake in a 180 degrees C (356 F) oven for an hour and a half, or until soft.

Step 2: Taking Out the Middle

Once the kumara's are cooked and cooled, they are ready to have the middles removed. Using a sharp knife cut the kumara's in half length ways. Then using a spoon, scrape out the flesh almost all the way leaving about 5 millimeters of the flesh all round.

Step 3: Mashing

Once all of the kumara half's are scraped out it is time to mash the kumara that you took out. I just used a fork but you can use a potato masher if you wish.

Step 4: Ingredients

For the filling you will need:

2 onions
200 grams bacon
1/4 cup hickory sauce
2 tins of baked beans
1 Tablespoon smoked paprika
1 Teaspoon garlic
Chile's to taste
Pepper to taste
Cheese for the top

Chop up the onions and cook until lightly browned and translucent. In the same pan fry the bacon until cooked.

Drain one of the tins of baked beans and leave the other tin with the sauce, you don't have to do this step but my tins have a lot of sauce in them so it is better to drain them.

And also if you are using chilies, chop them up finely. Now if you want a few of the stuffed kumaras to not have chilies, then split the mashed kumara into two bowls as I have done.

Step 5: Adding All the Ingredeints

Basically just add half of everything into one bowl, except the chilies. Then put the rest into the other bowl. That way if you have kids they can have the filling without the chilies and the adults can have the filling with the chilies.

Step 6: Mixing It All Together

Once you have added all of the ingredients together, use a spoon to mix it up until fully incorporated. Then do the same to the other bowl.

Step 7: Filling!

Now We are up to the fun stage! using a spoon or just your hands fill the kumara skins until they are bulging with that delicious filling. Then repeat with the other filling.

Step 8: Topping With Cheese

Grate some cheese and top the stuffed kumara's with the cheese.

Step 9: Finished and Ready to Eat!

Bake the kumara's in a 180 degrees C or 356 F oven for 10-15 minutes or until the filling is hot and the cheese has melted and gone nice and crispy. These stuffed kumara's are delicious on it's own but if you want some greens with them just boil some peas and serve immediately. These would also be great for a work lunch.

I hope you give them a try and if you do don't forget to comment in the comments section below and post a pic!