Meat Baked in a Pumpkin

Cooking method

1. Step 1:

   

   How do you bake meat inside a pumpkin? Start by gathering your ingredients. Wash the vegetables well, ideally with a brush, then pat them dry. Thaw the meat ahead of time if needed. I'm using pork tenderloin. If your meat is bone-in, cut the meat away and discard the bones. Pick a wide, slightly flattened pumpkin — one small enough to fit in your oven and sit comfortably on a baking sheet.

2. Step 2:

   

   Cut the pork into medium cubes.

3. Step 3:

   

   Peel the onion and slice it into half-moons, not too thin.

4. Step 4:

   

   Seed the bell pepper and cut it into large pieces. Feel free to slice it into strips a bit thicker than the onion.

5. Step 5:

   

   Mince the garlic with a knife or press it through a garlic press.

6. Step 6:

   

   Cut the top off the pumpkin and scoop out all the seeds and stringy insides with a spoon. Don't toss the top — set it aside. Leave the flesh in place. It's best to choose a pumpkin with thick flesh; a variety that's on the drier but still juicy side works especially well here.

7. Step 7:

   

   Fry the pork cubes in a skillet with vegetable oil until lightly golden, stirring with a spatula now and then.

8. Step 8:

   

   Add the onion to the meat and cook, stirring, for another 3–4 minutes.

9. Step 9:

   

   Stir in the bell pepper and cook for another 3–4 minutes, stirring.

10. Step 10:

    

    Add the minced garlic.

11. Step 11:

    

    Season with salt.

12. Step 12:

    

    Add pepper and cook for another 3–4 minutes.

13. Step 13:

    

    Now spoon the sautéed meat and vegetables into your prepared pumpkin bowl.

14. Step 14:

    

    Cover the pumpkin with the top you cut off earlier. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and bake the pumpkin until fully tender. This can take anywhere from 40 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on your oven and the pumpkin.

15. Step 15:

    

    Check the pumpkin for doneness with a wooden skewer. If it slides easily into the flesh, it's ready. My beauty was done in an hour!

16. Step 16:

    

    Enjoy your meal!