Description
Savor the warmth of autumn with this comforting Pumpkin Beef Bolognese. Bursting with rich flavors, this one-pan dish features tender ground beef simmered with hearty pumpkin and aromatic herbs in a robust tomato sauce. Perfectly paired with your favorite pasta and a creamy dollop of ricotta, it’s not only easy to prepare but also an excellent choice for cozy family dinners or festive gatherings. Experience the delightful blend of savory and sweet while enjoying a wholesome meal that everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
- 14 ounces pasta
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 shallots (finely chopped)
- 3 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 celery stalk (finely chopped)
- 4 cups diced pumpkin (with skin, seeded)
- 1 small or ½ large fennel bulb (trimmed and diced)
- 1.5 pounds ground beef
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried sage
- ½ tsp chili flakes
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- salt (to taste)
- black pepper (to taste)
- 1 ¾ cups beef broth (or chicken or vegetable broth)
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 cups puréed tomatoes
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- Fresh thyme (for serving)
- Chili flakes (for serving)
- 5 tbsp ricotta
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp grated parmesan
- salt (to taste)
- black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large heavy-based saucepan over medium-low heat. Add shallots, garlic, and celery; sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in diced pumpkin; cook for another 5 minutes. Add fennel and cook for an additional 3 minutes.
- Increase heat to high, add ground beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned, then lower heat to medium and cook for another 10 minutes.
- Add thyme, sage, chili flakes, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, broth, and bay leaf; simmer for about 10 minutes. Then stir in puréred tomatoes and tomato paste; cover and simmer for another 10 minutes until pumpkin is tender.
- While the sauce simmers, cook pasta according to package directions until al dente.
- Serve the pasta topped with Pumpkin Beef Bolognese sauce and add spoonfuls of ricotta on top.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 44g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 70mg