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Spicy Fall Stew Baked in a Pumpkin

Vegetarian Times Issue: October 1, 2008   p.67

You don’t need a magic spell to turn a pumpkin into the edible serving dish for this satisfying autumn recipe. If you can’t find a large pumpkin or squash, bake this stew in two smaller ones. Serve with Poblano-Cucumber Salsa (Click here for recipe).

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Heat 1 Tbs. oil in pot over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Sauté 7 minutes, or until softened. Stir in chili powder, cumin, and oregano, and cook 3 minutes more, or until spices darken.

2. Add tomatillos, hominy, ı/2 cup water, and salt. Cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, partially covered, 10 to 12 minutes, or until tomatillos are softened. Uncover, and cook 5 minutes more to thicken stew, if necessary.

3. Meanwhile, cut top of pumpkin around stem to make lid. Scoop out pumpkin seeds and strings. Rub inside of pumpkin with remaining 1 Tbs. oil, and sprinkle generously with salt. Sprinkle cheese in bottom of pumpkin.

4. Fill pumpkin with stew, then top with pumpkin lid. Place on parchment-covered baking sheet and bake 1ı/2 to 2 hours, or until pumpkin flesh is fork-tender. Remove from oven; let stand 5 minutes.

5. Scoop stew, including pumpkin, into bowls and serve hot, topped with Poblano-Cucumber Salsa (Click here for recipe). 

Member Rating: 1111

ingredient list

Serves 6

  • 1 medium onion, diced (1 cup)
  •  2 Tbs. olive oil, divided
  • 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch dice
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
  • 1 tsp. chili powder, preferably New Mexican
  • 1 tsp. ground cumin
  • ½ tsp. dried oregano
  • ½ lb. tomatillos, husked and quartered (1½ cups)
  • 1 15-oz. can hominy, rinsed and drained
  • ¾ tsp. salt
  • 1 3- to 4-lb. pumpkin, either sugar pie, cheese, red kuri, kabocha, or buttercup squash
  • 2 oz. grated sharp Cheddar cheese (½ cup packed)

Nutritional Information

Per :

Calories 221
Protein 6g
Total Fat 9g
Saturated Fat 3g
Carbs 31g
Cholesterol 10mg
Sodium 699mg
Fiber 6g
Sugar 10g
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Comments

By Kate on Oct 02, 2009:
This is amazing!!! The cucumber salsa tops it off nicely...I added some Greek Yogurt...my only issue, how many servings per recipe?
By Christina on Oct 14, 2009:
Thanks for a great pumpkin recipe!

http://30poundsin30weeks.blogspot.com/
By Bev on Oct 18, 2009:
I accidentally set the oven to 400F, and the dish was done baking in 45 minutes. Yay!
By Milli on Oct 20, 2009:
This was an absolutely delicious recipe!! I used cayenne pepper instead of the new mexican chili and had a good spicy kick to it.
By Lana on Oct 23, 2009:
Fabulous!! I placed the stew in three small pie pumpkins to make individual servings. I placed the finished pumpkins on plates, and we ate the stew directly out of the pumpkins.
By Anonymous on Oct 25, 2009:
This was wonderful - made it in a red kuri squash. Delicious, especially with the cucumber salsa!
By GayLynn on Oct 27, 2009:
This looks ans sounds great, can't wait to try it.
By Joan on Dec 15, 2009:
This is a no-fail, super delicious dish. I have had many positive comments from guests that I have served this to. I continue to make this recipe over and over, as it is so scrumptious. I don't even make the salsa as the pumpkin stew, is so great on its own.
By cameron s. on Feb 10, 2010:
this is a amazing recipe. hearty and scrumptious. so good i make it at least once a month during the fall and early winter. the only thing is that the serving size will inevitably vary according to the squash and size chosen. i will never lose this recipe!
By eevans11 on Aug 06, 2010:
One of my most favorite fall recipes. Can't wait for it to be pumpkin season again.
By Julie on Sep 25, 2010:
Just omit the cheese to make it vegan. Its just as good!
By Linda O on Oct 16, 2010:
This does not feed 6. I doubled for 11. Saw the amount and added 3 15 oz cans of tomatoes and two of small red beans. Still barely had enough. It is delicious but even with the pumpkin scooped from the sides of the "container" the serving size is misleading.
By Amy L on Oct 25, 2010:
The stew on it's own is very good - but even better when served in a pumpkin and topped w/the avocado salsa! That really transformed the dish. I added a carrot and a few tomatoes as well - I had to add a whole cup of water to the stew and it was still slightly dry, but cooked very nicely in the pumpkin. I also added a spoonful of greek yogurt on top of the avocado - and it really brought out the flavors! Great dish - so festive too!
By Vita on Oct 26, 2010:
What Linda said. But it WAS delicious! Next time I will use a kabocha squash, or another dense, dryer and orange squash. My pumpkin was disappointingly stringy and pale. GREAT soup though!
By Julie Ann, Suburban farmer on Nov 01, 2010:
My family and friends love this recipe. We make it every year as part of our fall festival: Halloweeen, Day of the Dead, and Samhain. Keep up the great veggie recipes
By Courtney on Nov 07, 2010:
This is a go-to recipe for me. I love it. I have made my own modifications along the way, for example leaving out the tomatillos and replacing the hominy for quinoa. Love it topped with avocado. I have made this time and time again fro guests and they always want the recipe.
By jean on Nov 16, 2010:
THis is a terrific recipe especially paired with the with the avocado cucumber salsa. I agree with Linda in that there is no way this feeds 6. I used a 3.2 lb squash and we could serve 3 with it along with rice and beans. That being said, it is one of the best things I have made in a long time and will definetly make it again!. THanks VT.
By LBC on Oct 30, 2011:
Thought this was delicious, but I think it serves 3, not 4 people. Also, I would have called it stew instead of spicy.

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