Chicken Stew in a Pumpkin Shell (Frango na Moranga)

Name: Chicken Stew in a Pumpkin Shell (Frango na Moranga)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 80 min
Total time: 100 min
Yield: 6 -8
Ingredients: For the Pumpkin:; 1 medium pumpkin; 1 tablespoon salt; 1 pinch ground black pepper; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted); For the Chicken Stew:; 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; 1 medium yellow or white onion (small diced); 2 cloves garlic (minced); 1-1/2 pounds roasted chicken (skinned and shredded, 700 g); 1/2 cup dry white wine; 2 teaspoons tomato paste; 1 cup chicken stock; Salt and pepper to taste; 3/4 cup pumpkin puree scooped out from the roasted pumpkin lid; 1 cup coconut milk; 4 oz cream cheese (softened, about 1/2 cup); 2 tablespoons chopped parsley or cilantro; 1-2 cups shredded cheese for the topping (Mozzarella or other semi-soft of your choice. I used Fiesta Blend in mine)

November 7, 2013 by Denise Browning 48 Comments

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Hello, everyone! I am so happy to be sharing with you today this Chicken Stew in a Pumpkin Shell — a dish from my beloved Brazil. I hope that y’all are doing well, and that you enjoyed our last creation: Pumpkin Pie with Pecan-Chocolate Topping — a treat inspired by my second home, my dear USA.

Both dishes are featured in our Thanksgiving celebration this year. I hope that they will become a part of your table as well. If you would like to make your chicken stew in a pumpkin shell using turkey, you certainly can. It is also a great way to get rid of Thanksgiving leftovers too.

In Brazil, shrimp stew in a pumpkin shell (camarão na moranga) or jerked beef in a pumpkin shell (carne seca na moranga) are the most popular. But as you see, using other meats such as poultry or fish is not unusual. They are typical dishes from my region, Northeast Brazil, although they are often enjoyed in other regions as well.

Our chicken stew in a pumpkin shell or frango na moranga is naturally gluten-free, as are many dishes from Northeast Brazil, and perfect for a Thanksgiving celebration or the Fall season. In Brazil we do not have a national Thanksgiving holiday set aside, although we are thankful for all that we have on an everyday basis. However, several Brazilian dishes would be lovely to serve during Thanksgiving Day celebrations here because of ingredients shared in common, such as pumpkin.

Now, I do have to say in my home country the pumpkin shell is usually prepared by boiling. However, as a chef I prefer to roast the pumpkin shell instead, in order to preserve both its flavor and texture. If you don’t have access to requeijão (Brazilian cream cheese spread), no worries!!!! You can use American cream cheese like I did.

Brazilians usually make this chicken stew in a medium to large pumpkin shell (family-size) which is later ladled out and served on individual plates. However, you can easily use small pumpkins for making this chicken stew in a pumpkin shell, and then present them as servings for each individual. Can you picture everyone seated at the table, each enjoying their own stew in a pumpkin shell? How cool would that be! That would be a marvelous idea for entertaining.

Well, whether served as a family-sized or as an individual dish, our chicken stew in a pumpkin shell is easy to make, creamy, and delicious.

Now which way will you prefer to serve it???

5 from 5 votes