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Carbonada Criolla

A hearty beef and pumpkin stew studded with corn and sweet potato — Argentina’s autumn bowl of comfort, sometimes served right inside the squash.

⏱ 25 minPrep time
🔥 1 hr 30 minCook time
🍽 6Servings
🏷 Argentinian KitchenCategory
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Carbonada Criolla

Carbonada is a criollo stew that changes with the season: beef, pumpkin, corn, and potatoes simmered into a thick, sweet-savory medley. The most festive version is served inside a hollowed-out pumpkin, and it is pure Argentine comfort.

A stew that tastes like golden autumn

The pumpkin melts into the broth, giving it a silky sweetness that clings to the tender beef cubes. Corn adds pops of juice, and a spoonful of the thick, fragrant stew is a hug in a bowl.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat and brown the beef cubes on all sides, about 8 minutes; remove and set aside.
  2. In the same pot, cook the onion for 4 minutes, add the garlic and cook 1 minute more, then stir in the tomatoes, paprika, and cumin.
  3. Return the beef to the pot, pour in the stock, and simmer covered for 40 minutes, until the meat starts to tenderize.
  4. Add the pumpkin, potato, sweet potato, and salt and pepper, and simmer for 20 minutes.
  5. Stir in the corn kernels and green beans and cook for 10 minutes more, until the vegetables are tender and the stew is thick and glossy.
  6. Taste, adjust the salt, and serve in deep bowls with crusty bread.

💡 Chef tips & storage

For the festive version, bake the stew in a hollowed-out pumpkin for the last hour — it looks spectacular. Leftovers keep 3 days refrigerated and taste even better reheated.

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Recipe details

Prep25 min
Cook1 hr 30 min
Servings6
CategoryArgentinian Kitchen
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →