Savory Pumpkin Chili Delight
This savory pumpkin chili combines hearty beef with sweet pumpkin for a unique and flavorful dish. Perfect for cozy autumn evenings, it’s easy to prepare and sure to please the whole family.
- Author: Clara
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: American
- 1 onion
- 1 clove garlic
- 100 g leek
- 1 Hokkaido pumpkin (about 450 grams)
- 1 can kidney beans (about 250 grams)
- 500 g mixed ground meat (or vegan alternative)
- 1 can diced tomatoes (about 400 grams)
- Oil
- Salt
- Pepper
- Chili powder
- Paprika powder (sweet)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- Peel the onion and garlic and chop them finely. This should take about 5 minutes. Make sure the pieces are small enough to cook evenly.
- Clean and wash the leek, then chop it small as well. This takes about 3 minutes. The leek should be well washed to remove sand and dirt.
- Wash the Hokkaido pumpkin, cut it in half, and remove the seeds. Then cut it into small pieces (about 2 cm). This may take about 10 minutes, but the smaller the pieces, the faster they will cook.
- Drain the kidney beans in a sieve, which takes about 2 minutes. This helps remove excess liquid.
- Heat some oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the ground meat and fry it until crumbly, which takes about 5-7 minutes. Make sure to break up the meat so it cooks evenly.
- Add the onions, garlic, leek, and some chili powder (to taste) to the ground meat. Sauté everything for another 3-4 minutes until the onions are translucent.
- Season everything with salt, pepper, and paprika powder. This should be done right at the beginning to intensify the flavors.
- Add the tomato paste and sauté it for 1-2 minutes until aromatic. This will enhance the flavor of the tomato paste.
- Pour in 300 ml of water and the diced tomatoes with their juice into the pan. Bring everything to a boil and let it simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Now it's time to add the pumpkin pieces and the drained beans. Let the chili simmer for 25-30 minutes. Stir occasionally to ensure nothing burns.
- After the cooking time, you can taste the chili again and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Make sure the pumpkin is soft but not falling apart.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 10 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Keywords: Avoid overcooking the ground meat to keep it juicy. Use a large pan or pot for enough space to stir and simmer. For a spicier dish, add fresh chili peppers or more chili powder gradually.