High Protein Creamy Pumpkin Noodles with Crispy Beef

Ingredients

• 1 cup Canned pumpkin purée
• 14 oz Reduced-fat coconut milk
• 1.333 cup Chicken bone broth (1 ⅓ cups)
• 2 tbsp Sriracha
• 1 tsp Chinese five spice
• 3 Green onions (Thinly sliced; separate the green and white parts)
• 6 oz Instant wheat noodles (Use instant wheat noodles without sauce packets; 6 oz total)
• 16 oz Extra-lean ground beef
• Oil (A tiny spray or drizzle, for cooking the beef)
• 2 tbsp Hoisin sauce
• 2 tbsp Coconut aminos
• 2 tbsp Rice vinegar
• 2 cubes Crushed garlic (Or 2 fresh cloves)
• 1 tsp Crushed ginger (Or 1 teaspoon fresh ginger)
• Roasted pumpkin seeds (Optional garnish)
• Chili crisp (Optional garnish)

Steps

1. 1

   In a large Dutch oven or pot, combine the pumpkin purée, reduced-fat coconut milk, chicken bone broth, Chinese five spice, and sriracha with the white parts of the sliced green onions.

2. 2

   Set the pot over medium heat and bring the pumpkin mixture to a boil while preparing the beef ingredients.

3. 3

   When the pumpkin mixture is bubbling, add the instant wheat noodles. Cook for 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the noodles are just shy of al dente.

4. 4

   Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add a tiny spray or drizzle of oil.

5. 5

   Add the ground beef to the skillet. Cook until a nicely browned crust forms on one side, about 3 minutes.

6. 6

   Break the beef apart with a spatula and continue cooking until it is fully cooked.

7. 7

   Add the hoisin sauce, coconut aminos, rice vinegar, crushed garlic, and crushed ginger to the skillet. Stir until the seasonings are distributed throughout the beef.

8. 8

   Cook the beef mixture for another 1–2 minutes, until the sauce coats the beef and begins to caramelize on the bottom of the pan.

9. 9

   Add about two-thirds of the crispy beef to the pot with the noodles and stir to combine. The sauce may look slightly runny at first but will thicken as the beef is added.

10. 10

    Plate the noodles and top with the remaining crispy beef crumbles and the green parts of the sliced green onions.

11. 11

    If desired, garnish with roasted pumpkin seeds and a little chili crisp.

Notes

The author used Sun Chi sliced noodles from 99 Ranch Market and notes that other instant wheat noodles, such as Trader Joe’s squiggly knife-cut style noodles without sauce packets, work well. Optional garnishes are roasted pumpkin seeds and chili crisp.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• high-protein
• one-pot
• spicy
• fall
• quick
• 20-minute meal