This is a marvelous autumn potluck dinner. Everyone will be very impressed with this thick beef stew made and served in a pumpkin shell! Use a 10 to 12 pound pumpkin; be sure not to overbake!
INGREDIENTS (for 8 servings):
- 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1 inch cubes
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
- 1 cup water
- 3 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 4 carrots, sliced
- 1 large green bell pepper, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, chopped
- 2 tablespoons beef bouillon granules
- 1 sugar pumpkin
PREPARATION:
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Place beef in the saucepan and cook until evenly brown. Mix in the water, potatoes, carrots, green bell pepper, garlic, onion, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer approximately 2 hours.
Dissolve the bouillon into the beef mixture. Stir in the tomatoes.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
Cut top off the pumpkin and remove seeds and pulp. Place the pumpkin in a heavy baking pan. Fill the pumpkin with the beef mixture. Brush outside of the pumpkin with remaining oil.
Bake in the preheated oven 2 hours, or until tender. Serve the stew from the pumpkin, scraping out some of the pumpkin meat with each serving.