Not sure what to do with all of the pumpkins you brought home from the family visit to the pumpkin patch? Try this festive fall recipe for a hearty beef and rice combination baked and served in a pumpkin. You can either make one large pumpkin or multiple smaller pumpkins if you prefer individual servings.
Dinner In a Pumpkin
- 1 medium pumpkin (about 6 pounds)
- 2 lbs. ground beef, cooked
- 1 chopped onion
- 3 sliced carrots
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
- 1 can sliced mushroom, drained
- 1 Tbsp. garlic salt
- 1 celery stalk, sliced
- 1 green pepper, diced
- 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
- 2 C. cooked rice
- 1 (8 ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, drained
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- salt and pepper to taste
Bring all ingredients except pumpkin to a boil in a pot and simmer for about 10 minutes. While the beef mixture is simmering, cut the lid from pumpkin and scoop out seeds and any strands, cleaning the inside. Place the pumpkin in a sturdy baking pan and fill with the beef mixture. Depending on the size of your pumpkin, you may not be able to fit all of the stew mixture inside; bake any extra stew in a covered dish. Place the lid on the pumpkin and bake at 350°F for approximately 1-1 ½ hours, or until pumpkin is tender and brown.
annemarie
what kind of pumpkin ? a pumpkin patch pumpkin ? i'm new at cooking a pumpkin and well this ought be kinda interesting
Mary Ann
Yes, a medium sized pumpkin from either the grocery store or a pumpkin patch. You wouldn't want to use that kind for cooking with the contents, but it is perfect for this dish. Just discard the contents (if you'd like, you can keep the seeds to clean and roast in the oven with a little salt).
annemarie
a medium size pumpkin shouldn't be hard to find I'll scoop out its innards and put the meat mixture in it and dinner done ! oh cool thank you !!!