Pumpkin Stew With Lamb

Name: Pumpkin Stew With Lamb
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 1 h 10 min
Total time: 1 h 35 min
Yield: 6 to 8 servings
Ingredients: 2 1/2 pounds lean lamb cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes by butcher; Salt to taste, if desired; Freshly ground pepper to taste; 3 tablespoons corn, peanut or vegetable oil; 1 1/2 cups finely chopped onions; 1 teaspoon finely minced garlic; 3 tablespoons flour; 1 cup dry white wine; 1 1/2 cups water; 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 1 bay leaf; 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme; 1 teaspoon finely chopped hot green chili, such as jalapeno pepper; 4 cups cubed pumpkin (see box for instructions); 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves or half that amount dried; 1 cup fresh or frozen whole kernel corn

By Craig Claiborne

Updated Oct. 11, 2023

Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Rating: 4(16)
Comments: Read comments

Featured in: Grand Cuisine From the Pumpkin Patch

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Ingredients

Yield:6 to 8 servings

2½pounds lean lamb cut into 1½-inch cubes by butcher
Salt to taste, if desired
Freshly ground pepper to taste
3tablespoons corn, peanut or vegetable oil
1½cups finely chopped onions
1teaspoon finely minced garlic
3tablespoons flour
1cup dry white wine
1½cups water
2tablespoons tomato paste
1bay leaf
½teaspoon dried thyme
1teaspoon finely chopped hot green chili, such as jalapeno pepper
4cups cubed pumpkin (see box for instructions)
½teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves or half that amount dried
1cup fresh or frozen whole kernel corn

Ingredient Substitution Guide

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Preparation

Step 1
Sprinkle meat with salt and pepper and set aside.
Step 2
Heat oil in a heavy casserole and add half the meat, stirring so pieces brown evenly, 3 to 4 minutes over high heat.
Step 3
Scoop out meat and add remaining cubes to the fat still in the casserole. Cook, stirring, about 3 minutes, or until pieces are well browned. Scoop out second batch and add to the first.
Step 4
Put onions in the casserole and add garlic. Cook, stirring, about 1 minute, and return meat pieces to the casserole. Sprinkle flour over all and stir to coat pieces evenly.
Step 5
Add wine, water, tomato paste, bay leaf, thyme and chili pepper and cover closely. Bring to boil and simmer about 40 minutes. Add pumpkin. Continue cooking about 20 minutes longer. Stir in rosemary and corn and bring to boil. Remove bay leaf and serve.

Tips

To prepare raw pumpkin cubes, it is best to use a small pumpkin weighing no more than 4 pounds. Preparation time: 15 minutes. 1. Cut around and discard the pumpkin stem. 2. Cut pumpkin into eighths. Scoop away and discard seeds and fibers of each piece. Pare away and discard outer peel of each piece. Cut flesh into ¾-inch cubes. Yield: just over 8 cups of cubes from a 4-pound pumpkin.
To prepare fresh puree: 1. Place bottom of a steamer on stove and fill halfway with water. Bring to boil. Add cubed raw pumpkin (see instructions) to steamer rack and place rack over the boiling water. Cover closely. Let steam 6 or 7 minutes, or until cubes are tender. 2. Put steamed cubes of pumpkin through a food mill. A food processor or electric blender may be used, but the puree will be a bit fibrous. Yield: about 1¾ cups of puree from 4 cups of cubed pumpkin.