A cozy, fall-inspired take on classic bolognese, served inside tender roasted mini pumpkins. It’s warm, rich, and deeply savory, with Shooka Sauce adding the perfect depth of flavor. This dish feels special enough for a dinner party but relaxed enough for a chilly weeknight at home. 🍂🎃
The best part? The pumpkins become edible bowls. Scoop, tear off pieces of sourdough, and dig right in.
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup small yellow onion, finely diced
- ½ cup small carrot, peeled, finely diced
- ½ cup small celery stalk, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb 80/20 ground beef
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- Pinch black pepper
- Pinch nutmeg (ground or freshly grated)
- ½ cup dry white wine
- 1 (16 oz) jar Shooka Sauce
- 1-2 cups beef broth
- ⅓ - 1 cup whole milk or ⅓ cup heavy cream
- Sage leaves, chopped
- Grated parmesan
- Mini pumpkins
Directions:
Cook the pumpkins:
- Set the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with foil
- Slice tops of the pumpkins; scoop out seeds and fibers, brush them with olive oil and season with salt + pepper.
- Place the lids back on and bake until slightly tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven.
Make the sauce:
- Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a Dutch oven or pot over medium heat.
- Add the onion, carrot, celery, and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened.
- Add the beef, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Cook, breaking it up, until browned.
- Stir in the white wine and cook until mostly evaporated.
- Stir in the Shooka Sauce and beef broth. Bring to a simmer.
- Add the milk or cream and cook, stirring occasionally, reduce heat to low and simmer on low, for about 1 hour.
Stuff and bake the pumpkins:
- Fill each pumpkin with the bolognese.
- Top with cheese + sage leaves and continue baking at 375°F until the cheese starts to brown, about 15 -20 minutes.
Why we love this recipe:
It’s comfort food with a twist, hearty bolognese, cozy fall flavors, and the warm spices of Shooka Sauce all packed into a soft roasted pumpkin. It’s rustic, fun, and a perfect centerpiece for autumn cooking.
