My Kitchen, My World - Argentina

This week Teresa of I'm Running to Eat chose Argentina. I was so tempted to grill a steak and make some chimichurri but I wanted to make something I had never had. After some research I decided on Carbonada en Zapallo (pumpkin stuffed with beef and vegetable stew). It was so much fun to make. I have never roasted an entire pumpkin! And, I have never served anything out of a big, giant pumpkin. Agnes loved it!


What's inside the pumpkin?

Pumpkin Stuffed with Beef and Vegetable Stew

1 medium pumpkin

6 tablespoons salted butter, melted

2 lbs. stew beef, cut into 1 1/2″ cubes

2 large red onions, sliced thin

2 red bell peppers, cored, seeded, sliced

5 garlic cloves, chopped

3 dried red chillies, snapped in half

1 tablespoon coriander seeds, crushed or 1 teaspoon ground

1 1/2 tablespoons cumin seeds, crushed or 1 1/2 teaspoons ground

2 large yams, cubed

6 to 10 new potatoes, quartered

1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes

1 cup red lentils

3/4 cup dried peaches or dried pears, halved

4 cobs of corn, quartered

1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped

6 cups water, more if needed

corn or olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees, F. Cut a lid off the top of the pumpkin and scoop out the insides.

2. Brush the pumpkin, inside and out, with butter and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 50 to 70 minutes. The pumpkin should be cooked through but not collapsing on itself.

1. Place a large heavy bottomed pot over medium high heat, pour in two tablespoons of oil and when it shimmers, add the beef. Brown on all sides, about 8 minutes. Remove beef from pot.

3. Add onions, peppers and garlic to pot and saute until onion is translucent. Add spices and saute for 3 minutes. Add chilies and saute for half a minute. Add meat, yams, new potatoes, lentils, tomatoes, dried fruit, salt, pepper and water to pot. Bring to a boil and simmer for about half an hour until the potatoes are tender. Add more water if needed.

4. Add corn and cook for another 4 minutes. Stir half the cilantro into stew. Pour stew into pumpkin, top with remaining cilantro and bring to the table. Serve.




I will definitely be making the stew again. While the pumpkin was really fun to make I would only make again if we had company.