Beef, pumpkin and ginger stew
Warming, easy-to-make family dinner idea that makes use of the pumpkin flesh scooped out to make your Halloween lantern
- 2 tbsp plain flour
- 1lb salt and pepper
- 750g lean stewing beefdiced
- 25g butter
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 onionchopped
- 2 carrotssliced
- 2 parsnipssliced
- 3 bay leaves
- thyme sprigs
- 2 tbsp tomato purée
- 625g pumpkinpeeled, deseeded and cut into small chunks
- 1 tbsp dark muscovado sugar
- 50g fresh root gingerpeeled and finely chopped
- small handful of parsleychopped, plus extra to garnish
Method
step 1
Season the flour with salt and pepper and use to coat the beef. Melt the butter with the oil in a large saucepan and fry the meat in 2 batches until browned, draining with a slotted spoon
step 2
Add the onion, carrots and parsnips to the saucepan and fry gently for 5 minutes
step 3
Return the meat to the pan and add the bay leaves, thyme and tomato purée. Add just enough water to cover the ingredients and bring slowly to the boil. Reduce the heat to its lowest setting, cover with a lid and simmer very gently for 45 minutes
step 4
Add the pumpkin, sugar, ginger and parsley and cook for a further 30 minutes until the pumpkin is soft and meat is tender. Check the seasoning and serve scattered with extra parsley