Afghan Style Pumpkin With Yogurt Sauce Recipes

KADDO BOURANI (AFGHANI BAKED PUMPKIN WITH YOGURT SAUCE)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300°F.
• Cut the pumpkins in half through the stem end, and cut out the long stringy fibers.
• Cut each pumpkin half into 3- to 4-inch pieces.
• There should be about 8 pieces from each pumpkin.
• Using a vegetable peeler, pare the rind from the pumpkins, digging the peeler down a little to remove more than just the superficial layer of rind.
• Place the pumpkin pieces hollow sides up in a baking pan large enough to hold them in a single layer.
• Coat both sides of the pieces, using all of the oil.
• Pour all the sugar evenly over the pieces.
• Cover the pan.
• Bake the pumpkins until the color turns darker orange and becomes nearly translucent, and the texture is extremely tender, about 3 hours and 15 minutes.
• Baste the pieces once with the pan juices after 2 1/2 hours of baking.
• The Yogurt Sauce: Stir together the yogurt, garlic, mint and salt.
• Cover and refrigerate until serving time.
• Just before serving, taste and add more salt if necessary.
• Yields 2 cups sauce.
• For each serving: Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the yogurt sauce onto a plate.
• Using the back of the spoon, spread the sauce a little.
• Using a slotted spoon, remove 2 pieces of the pumpkin from the pan and center them on the sauce.
• Add more sauce to taste.

AFGHAN-STYLE PUMPKIN (WITH YOGURT SAUCE)

Steps:

• Put the oil in a pot or deep skillet that can later be covered on medium-high heat. When hot, add the onion and cook until browned, about 10 minutes. Add the turmeric, ginger and chili, and cook for another 2 minutes, until aromatic.
• Add pumpkin and stock; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, cover and turn heat to low. Cook, stirring once or twice, until pumpkin is tender, 15 to 30 minutes. Check periodically to make sure there is adequate liquid; if the pumpkin is done and the liquid is thin, remove lid and turn the heat to medium-high. Boil mixture until thick; taste and adjust seasoning.
• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. When hot, add garlic. If using ground beef, add it and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the meat begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and coriander and reduce heat to low; simmer until the mixture thickens, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Combine the yogurt, mint, minced garlic, salt and pepper in a bowl and stir.
• Spoon the ground beef or tomato sauce over the pumpkin. Top with yogurt sauce and more fresh mint and serve.