From Chef Lesli Sommerdorf for Harmons
Serves 4
Ingredients:
- 2 medium sugar pie pumpkins
- 5 Tbsp canola oil, divided
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 2 shallots, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 Tbsp Thai red curry paste
- 1 (13.5 oz) can unsweetened coconut milk
- 2 Tbsp Asian fish sauce
- Juice of 1 lime
- 2 tsp firmly packed light brown sugar
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 (1 ½ lb) sugar pie pumpkin or butternut squash, halved, seeded, peeled and cut into 1” pieces
- 2 Tbsp slivered fresh basil
- Steamed rice
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Cut tops off pumpkins, scoop out the seeds and strings, and discard. Drizzle the inside of each pumpkin with 1 tablespoon oil and season with salt and pepper. Place tops on pumpkins and place pumpkins on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven.
Meanwhile, in a blender, combine the shallots, garlic, and curry paste with 2 tablespoons water and process until smooth.
In a small bowl, combine the coconut milk, fish sauce, lime juice, and brown sugar and stir to dissolve the sugar.
In a large frying pan over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons oil. Add the chicken and cook until browned, 5-7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to a bowl. Add the pumpkin to the pan and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Transfer to the bowl with chicken.
Return the pan to medium heat and add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Add the curry base and cook, stirring, for about 10 seconds until fragrant. Stir in the coconut milk mixture and bring to a boil. Add the chicken, pumpkin, and basil and stir to combine. Let cook for 3 minutes.
Divide the cooked rice and chicken-pumpkin mixture between the two pumpkins, and return to the oven to heat through for 20 minutes.
