Beef and pumpkin casserole

Ingredients

700g beef blade steak, cut into 5cm chunks
olive oil
1 onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 cups butternut pumpkin, chopped.
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
1 bay leaf
3 tbsp thyme leaves
zest of one orange
6 anchovies
1 x 400g tin diced tomatoes
2 cups beef stock
1 x 500g packet egg pasta such as pappardelle
20g butter
parsley to serve

Method

Preheat the oven to 170°C or 150°C fan-forced.

Heat some olive oil in a heavy-based saucepan over high and in batches, brown the beef on all sides. Set beef aside and season well with salt and pepper.

Reduce heat to medium-low, add a splash more olive oil and cook the onion for five minutes, then add the garlic, pumpkin, vinegar, bay, thyme, zest and anchovies. Stir well and cook for another five minutes.

Now pour in the tomatoes and stock. Bring to the boil then cover and place in the oven for three hours. When ready to serve, cook pasta according to packet instructions, drain and toss with the butter. Serve in deep, warm bowls with a sprinkle of parsley.

Serving Suggestions

Note

I prefer to use unpeeled potimarron pumpkin for this recipe but it can be hard to find.
Due to the slow cooking of this casserole it is the perfect recipe to use cheaper cuts of beef like bolar blade and chuck steak.
This recipe was created by Sophie Hansen for Kidspot, New Zealand's best recipe finder. You can follow Sophie on Local is Lovely, Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.