Seasonal recipe: Pumpkin Stew-In-A-Pot

Organic Baby And Toddler Cookbook by Lizzie Vann (Dorling Kindersley, £9.99) is packed with inspiring recipes for each stage of your child’s development. Dishes include fruity rice, vegetable korma and this lovely recipe... 

Pumpkin Stew-In-A-Pot

Makes 4 servings for a 15-month-old

Ingredients

1 pumpkin
500g (17oz) minced pork or beef or cooked unsalted beans
250g (9oz) onion, chopped
3 cooking apples, cored and cut
125ml (4fl oz) water or stock
60g (21/4fl oz) raisins
1/2 tsp dried basil or thyme

Method

Preheat the oven to 180°C/ 350°F/Gas Mark 4. Cut the top off the pumpkin, scoop out the seeds and pulp, then cut the pumpkin into quarters. Place the quarters cut-side down in a deep baking dish with 1cm (1/2in) of water. Cover with foil and bake for two hours. 

Fry the meat or beans, onion and apple for about 15 minutes or until tender. Add the remaining ingredients, cover, bring to the boil, then simmer for about 30 minutes.

Drain the water from the pumpkin. Use a spoon to scoop out the flesh, then discard the skin. Mix the flesh with the meat or bean mixture and return to the baking dish. Cover with foil and put it back in the oven for 20 minutes, or until hot.