This braised beef with pumpkin is autumn comfort at its finest: melt-in-your-mouth beef slow-braised with sweet pumpkin, carrot and celery, then finished in the oven under a blanket of foil. It is hearty, gently spiced and naturally low in carbs — the kind of one-pan dinner that makes the whole house smell amazing. If you love slow-cooked beef, do not miss our Slow-Braised Tender Beef.
Ingredients
- 400 g (14 oz) beef
- 200 g (7 oz) pumpkin
- 1 carrot
- 1 red onion
- 2 celery stalks
- turmeric and paprika to taste
- salt and pepper to taste
- butter
- fresh herbs for garnish
Instructions
- Saute the carrot for a few minutes, add the pumpkin, fry for a couple of minutes and set the vegetables aside.
- Saute the onion with the celery for a few minutes and set aside as well.
- Brown the beef until it has a rich crust, pour in some water and braise under a lid for at least 20 minutes. For a classic take on this technique, see our Beef Stroganoff with Mushrooms.
- Return the sauteed vegetables to the beef, add the spices and mix well.
- Transfer everything to a baking dish, dot with butter, cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes at 180 C (350 F). Garnish with fresh herbs. Pumpkin fans should also try our Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Fritters.
Tips
- Do not skip the browning step — that deep crust is where most of the flavor comes from. More braising know-how is at Serious Eats.
- Choose a well-marbled cut of beef so it turns meltingly tender during the braise.
- Cut the pumpkin into even chunks so it cooks through without falling apart. Find more seasonal inspiration at Allrecipes.
Nutrition (per 100 g): 65 kcal, protein 5 g, fat 3 g, carbs 4 g.