This Chilean beef stew, Cazuela de Vaca, is a warming one pot meal - perfect when pumpkin and sweetcorn are in season.
I tried this receipe for my in laws who are Chilean and just flew in from South America on night. I was sadden that the cazuela/pumpkin turned out dry. I would use butternut squash or acorn squash next time. My mother who made this dish back in the old country recommended trying it with butternut squash. You can also use this receipe with chicken instead of beef if you like. My father in law wanted to add Cumin since it was missing just a tad flavor. Overall it is a nice basic soup and I followed the receipe 100% as written. I was hoping to impress but instead got a cooking lesson at dinner. - 23 Jan 2009 (Review from Allrecipes US | Canada)
South American 'pumpkin' is completely different from North American Pumpkin. It is sweeter and much softer, more a squash really. DO NOT USE PUMPKIN, SUBSTITUTE with Butternut Squash. I would use Knorr beef bouillon instead of beef broth and add sweet potato. - 26 Jan 2011 (Review from Allrecipes US | Canada)
This soup is a big hit in our house! Even my picky 2 year old liked it. I did substitute butternut squash for the pumpkin, used broccoli and mushrooms instead of leeks and onions (my husband doesn't like onions and I had mushrooms and broccoli I didn't want to go bad) as well as added the cumin someone else suggested. Amazing soup! Oh, but when I made it, it served way more than 6! It made a very large stock pot full. So good! - 08 Oct 2009 (Review from Allrecipes US | Canada)