Chicken and Pumpkin Stew with a blend of savory and sweet flavors.

Ingredients List

• 2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 onion, chopped

• 1 teaspoon ground ginger

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon ground cumin

• 1 tablespoon ground coriander

• 1 ½ pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into bite size pieces

• 1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed

• 3 pounds fresh pumpkin, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes

• salt, or to taste

• 1 teaspoon cornstarch (Optional)

• ¼ cup water (Optional)

Instructions

1. Set your slow cooker to High and add diced tomatoes and brown sugar. Stir them together to combine.

2. In a large non-stick skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and sauté until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Stir in the ginger, cinnamon, cumin, and coriander, and cook for another 2 minutes to release the spices' aroma. Add the chicken and cook until it’s no longer pink. Stir in the garbanzo beans and bring the mixture to a simmer. Transfer everything into the slow cooker and mix with the tomatoes.

3. In the same skillet, add the pumpkin and reduce the heat to medium. Cook, stirring often, until the pumpkin is heated through and slightly browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer the pumpkin to the slow cooker and cover.

4. Let the stew cook on High for 1 hour. Afterward, reduce the heat to Low and continue cooking for 3 to 4 hours, or until the pumpkin is tender. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. If the stew is too runny, mix cornstarch with water in a small bowl to create a slurry and stir it into the stew. Cook for an additional 30 minutes or until the stew thickens to your liking.

Tips from the Chef

For best results, I recommend using a 5-6 quart slow cooker. If your cooker has a plastic lid, it might not retain enough moisture, and you may need to add extra liquid. In this case, chicken stock works well. Try not to open the lid during cooking, as this will let out valuable steam that helps the recipe thicken. This dish can easily be made vegetarian by omitting the chicken and using your favorite plant-based alternatives.

Nutritional Information (per serving)