Instant Pot Spicy Lamb Butternut Squash Stew

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Reminiscent of Mexican mole, Instant Pot Spicy Lamb Butternut Squash Stew combines a rich Mexican-style sauce including cinnamon, cumin, ancho, chocolate, and tahini (sesame paste) with cubed lamb and butternut squash, healthy garbanzos (chick peas), and sweet bell pepper in a flavorful, tender lamb stew made quickly and easily with an Instant Pot or pressure cooker!

Tamara Talks (about lamb and Latin cooking)

As I continue to "niche down" from global to Latin-inspired, I feel compelled to defend my recent emphasis on lamb. While lamb isn't a typical protein in Latin cooking, it is definitely part of many countries' cuisines.

You'll find it in simmering in stews in Peru (seco de cordero), in Guatemalan seasoned ground lamb empanadas, roasting on a spit in Argentina. Of course chimichurri is a must! Cordero a la barbacoa en adobo is a traditional Mexican dish made with lamb or sheep.

So, what? One focus of my blog has always been to introduce my readers to new ingredients and new dishes. When thinking of ground lamb, do you think of an enchilada style ground lamb casserole? Probably not. How about a Moroccan-style couscous and ground lamb dish with warm spices, dried fruit, and nuts? You are probably more familiar with this type of dish.

Starting with a Quick Ground Lamb Casserole (Enchilada-Style) the first week of November, I'll be introducing a new lamb recipe each week. I hope you'll try (and enjoy) them as much as we do! Check out my Ground Lamb Recipes for even more inspiration!

How to Make Instant Pot Lamb Butternut Squash Stew

As I've said before, I am not attempting to recreate abuelita's generations old recipe. Rather, I want to use both familiar and new ingredients to bring you creative, healthyish recipes to make meal time both interesting and delicious.

Butternut squash isn't common in Mexican or most Latin cooking. It is, however, synonymous with fall and winter cooking, and pairs beautifully with lamb. This hearty stew combines the two with some of the ingredients typically found in a Mexican mole - cinnamon, ancho, cocoa, and cumin.

My secret ingredient is instant masa flour - maseca. This is the specific product I use, and if you can't find it, order it from Amazon! Masa is naturally gluten free, but if sensitivity is an issue, be sure to confirm it is "safe." NOTE: If gluten sensitivity is an issue, beer is not gluten free unless you use a "gluten free" beer!

While flour will work fine as a thickener, I love the flavor provided by the masa... like a tortilla. I use it in my Gluten Free Corn Chowder with Green Chile.

Garbanzos (chick peas), onion, sweet bell pepper, and beer round out this Instant Pot stew. Served with warm corn tortillas, it's a complete, balanced, one-dish meal.

Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. This helps to offset the costs of maintaining my blog and creating awesome content! 😊

Steps

1. Sauté aromatics in Instant Pot.
2. Add lamb, spices, 2 tablespoons masa.
3. Continue to sauté.
4. Add beer, tahini, broth/stock. Bring to a boil. Lock lid in place. Cook 30 minutes on high pressure.
5. Release pressure, add squash, garbanzos, bell pepper. Lock lid in place and cook an additional 5 minutes on high pressure.
6. After a quick pressure release, stir to combine.
7. Ladle your tender lamb stew into bowls and garnish with chopped cilantro. Enjoy!

FAQ

I am gluten sensitive. Can I add beer? The beer does add depth to the stew. There are gluten free beers out there if you wish to include it. Otherwise, replace with an equal amount of broth/stock.

What beer works well? I keep Coronitas in my pantry for cooking as their light, clean flavor works really well in my Latin dishes. Coronitas are small. Choose a light lager that won't mess with the flavor profile.

I don't really want a big bag of masa that I won't use. Substitutions? I have not tried wheat flour, but if you're not gluten sensitive, it'd probably be fine. Unfortunately, you'll be missing the unique flavor of the masa.

Do I have to use garbanzos? Nope! You can substitute your favorite beans (ie. pintos, kidney).

What kind of broth/stock? You probably don't have lamb stock on hand. Lol. I have used both chicken and beef.

Can I make this on the stove? Yes indeed! Allow about 60 minutes before adding squash. Cook until squash is tender (20-30 minutes).

Can I make this lamb stew thicker? Yes. I specify 1/3 cup masa, but only add 2 tablespoons with the lamb at the beginning. I like to extract the flavor that comes with cooking it prior to adding liquid, but too much thickener of any kind can lead to a "burn" warning on the electric pressure cooker. Be sure to stir the liquids in with the lamb/masa mixture thoroughly scraping the bottom. I've not had problems with this recipe, but I have with my lamb stew Provençal. If you'd like a thicker stew, stir in more masa little by little, allowing it to come up to a boil in the "sauté" setting.

Time saving tips:

Bagged, cubed butternut squash is a HUGE time saver! It's about the right amount for the stew...

Lamb stew meat is ideal, and a great time saver.

What do you think? Served with warm tortillas, this hearty, healthy lamb butternut squash stew has become a favorite at Andersen casa... Let me know if you give it a try!