fitfool ([personal profile] fitfool) wrote2011-10-26 08:52 am
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Pumpkin Pork Chili

I had roasted some sugar pumpkins and now wanted to use my pumpkin puree. I threw this dish together after reading other pumpkin and pork chili recipes for ideas of possible ingredients to use. Quantities listed in the recipe are just guidelines. We basically started with most of the ingredients listed and then added a little more sugar, maple syrup, and lime juice until we liked how it tasted. Pretty tasty! Great way to stretch a single pound of ground pork into enough meat for several satisfying meals. This ended up being a pretty soupy chili with lots of liquid so we mixed in some cooked wild rice and it tasted great. By the last days, we had to add a little liquid when we reheated the chili. The pumpkin seems to add a bit of sweetness and a pleasing smooth texture to the chili.


small photo of a bowl of Pumpkin Pork Chili




Pumpkin Pork Chili

1 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 large onion, diced
6 cloves garlic, minced (we like lots of garlic)
1 lb ground pork
1 Tbsp ground cumin
1 tsp chili (or more to taste)
2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
2 tsp maple syrup
2 tsp lime juice
2 cups unsweetened pumpkin puree
1 big 28-ounce can diced tomatoes (with juice)
1 can of black beans (or pink beans)
2 cups corn kernels (used frozen but we could've used a can of corn if we had any)

  1. Saute and onion in vegetable oil over medium high heat until lightly browned, about 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and saute another minute until fragrant. Set the onion and garlic aside.

  2. Brown the ground pork in pan, breaking it up into small clumps with your spatula, and drain off fat after browned.

  3. Add ground cumin, chili powder, oregano, salt, sugar, maple syrup, and lime juice and stir.

  4. Add everything else to the pan (pumpkin puree, diced tomatoes, beans, corn kernels) and stir.

  5. Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking. We had added more maple syrup and lime juice to get to the quantities listed above.

  6. You could simmer until most of the liquid has evaporated, but it's pretty much ready to eat once everything is heated through.



bigger photo of a bowl of Pumpkin Pork Chili

[identity profile] lather2002.livejournal.com 2011-10-26 08:56 am (UTC)(link)
BUFFY: I was just thinking about the life of a pumpkin. Grow up in the sun - happily entwined with others, then someone comes along, cuts you open and - rips your guts out.

[identity profile] fitfool.livejournal.com 2011-10-27 01:03 am (UTC)(link)
That reminds me of how someone was saying it was so strange that we eat zucchini blossoms. But then after another moment's thought, decided that there were far stranger things to have decided to try eating.

[identity profile] tonethbone.livejournal.com 2011-10-26 09:36 am (UTC)(link)
This looks VERY interesting

[identity profile] fitfool.livejournal.com 2011-10-27 01:04 am (UTC)(link)
I hope you like it if you try this!

[identity profile] marinade.livejournal.com 2011-10-26 09:53 am (UTC)(link)
And even before I can make a comment about what the heck I'm going to do with pumpkin from your roasting trick, you give me a recipe that sounds out of this world.

Though, so you think I could use lean hamburger meat for the protein? This gives a lot of room to play and I like that. Green peppers going old? toss 'em in!, etc.

[identity profile] fitfool.livejournal.com 2011-10-27 01:04 am (UTC)(link)
Certainly! I just Googled 'recipe pumpkin pork' looking for ideas to make this one. I substituted beef into the search query and found this recipe along with several others that might give you more ideas.

[identity profile] marinade.livejournal.com 2011-10-26 03:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Shared this recipe with my folks and Mom added the ingredients to the shopping list. It's spreading!

[identity profile] fitfool.livejournal.com 2011-10-27 01:08 am (UTC)(link)
Let me know what you guys think of it after you've tasted it.

[identity profile] marinade.livejournal.com 2011-10-27 10:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Delicious! Made it tonight and found it to be pretty great. Definitely a keeper.

[identity profile] fitfool.livejournal.com 2011-11-06 08:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Awesome! Very happy to hear it.
(deleted comment)

[identity profile] fitfool.livejournal.com 2011-10-27 01:05 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks for the links! I once made a butternut squash sauce for pasta that I had liked a lot. I bet a pumpkin alfredo sauce would taste even better. Makes me think I should make a batch of fresh pasta too to go with it.

[identity profile] superhappytime.livejournal.com 2011-10-26 06:17 pm (UTC)(link)
I so want that.

[identity profile] fitfool.livejournal.com 2011-10-27 01:06 am (UTC)(link)
It's not too hard to make. Could even be quick if you used canned pumpkin puree. :)
annieeats: (chop)

[personal profile] annieeats 2011-10-26 06:49 pm (UTC)(link)
That looks great. I've been so sick of my standard chili recipe that I might try something like this.

[identity profile] fitfool.livejournal.com 2011-10-27 01:07 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah...I feel like I have a tendency to fall into ruts with cooking sometimes. Hope you like this if you give it a try :)

[identity profile] 88greenthumb.livejournal.com 2011-10-27 12:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Great recipe variation! Another must try.

[identity profile] fitfool.livejournal.com 2011-11-06 08:37 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm happy to have a new chili recipe in our rotation. :)

[identity profile] jazzbird.livejournal.com 2011-11-02 08:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Ooh! Looks and sounds like perfectly wonderful fall comfort food. Thanks for the great idea!

[identity profile] fitfool.livejournal.com 2011-11-06 08:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes indeed. Very nice to have on chilly fall nights.
Edited 2011-11-07 00:38 (UTC)

[identity profile] tommy50702.livejournal.com 2014-11-20 07:21 am (UTC)(link)
Have you ever tried with beef?