Slow Cooker Pork with Acorn Squash, Red Lentils, and Spiced Tomato Sauce with Yogurt and Mint

Name: Slow Cooker Pork with Acorn Squash, Red Lentils, and Spiced Tomato Sauce with Yogurt and Mint
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 360 min
Total time: 380 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Fusión mediterránea
Ingredients: 2 lb boneless pork shoulder, cubed; 1.5 lb acorn squash; 1 cup red lentils; 1.25 cups yellow onion; 1 tbsp garlic; 14 oz crushed tomatoes; 1.5 cups chicken broth; 2 tbsp tomato paste; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1.5 tsp ground cumin; 1 tsp ground coriander; 1 tsp sweet paprika; 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon; 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes; 1.5 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 1/2 cup plain yogurt; 1/4 cup fresh mint; 2 tbsp lemon

An original slow cooker stew with tender pork cubes, acorn squash, and red lentils slowly cooked in a spiced tomato sauce. Finished with plain yogurt, fresh mint, and a touch of lemon for an aromatic, gentle, and comforting flavor profile.

20 minPrep

360 minCook

380 minTotal

6Servings

Gluten-FreeHigh Protein

Ingredients

Adjust servings

900 g boneless pork shoulder, cubed (1.5 inch)
700 g acorn squash (pelada, without semillas and diced)
180 g red lentils (enjuagadas)
180 g yellow onion (chopped)
15 g garlic (chopped, unos 4 cloves)
400 g crushed tomatoes (en lata or casero)
360 ml chicken broth (low sodium)
30 g tomato paste
15 ml olive oil
4 g ground cumin
2 g ground coriander
2 g sweet paprika
0.5 g ground cinnamon
0.5 g red pepper flakes (optional)
8 g salt (or to taste)
1 g black pepper (freshly ground)
120 g plain yogurt (for servir)
10 g fresh mint (chopped)
30 ml lemon (juice fresh)

Nutrition facts

per serving

438 kcal

Calories

33 g

Protein

24 g

Carbs

23 g

Fat

5 g

Fiber

19 g

Net carbs

Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.

Allergens

Dairy

Instructions

1
1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and brown the pork shoulder in batches for 4 to 5 minutes, turning to sear several sides. Transfer the pork to the slow cooker.
2
2. In the same skillet, add the onion and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic, ground cumin, ground coriander, sweet paprika, ground cinnamon, and red pepper flakes, and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the tomato paste and cook 1 minute more.
3
3. Pour the crushed tomatoes and chicken broth into the skillet, add the salt and black pepper, and stir to loosen the browned bits from the bottom. Transfer this mixture to the slow cooker over the pork.
4
4. Add the acorn squash and the rinsed red lentils to the slow cooker. Mix well so the sauce is distributed around all the ingredients.
5
5. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours, or until the pork is very tender and the squash and lentils are soft. If you prefer to cook on high, cook for about 3 hours. A slow cooker generally operates around 190 to 210 °F / 88 to 99 °C on low and 250 to 300 °F / 121 to 149 °C on high, depending on the model.
6
6. Uncover, stir gently, and taste for seasoning. If the sauce is looser than desired, cook for 15 to 20 minutes more on high, uncovered, until slightly thickened.
7
7. Turn off the slow cooker and stir in the lemon juice and half of the fresh mint. Stir carefully so the squash does not completely fall apart.
8
8. Serve hot and finish each portion with a spoonful of plain yogurt and the remaining fresh mint on top.

Chef tips

For deeper flavor, brown the pork well until richly colored before transferring it to the slow cooker. If the squash is very tender, cut it into large cubes so it holds its shape better. Add the yogurt at the end, off the heat, to keep its creamy texture.

Substitutions

You can substitute the pork shoulder with boneless turkey thigh. Acorn squash can be replaced with butternut squash. For a dairy-free version, omit the yogurt or use an unsweetened plant-based alternative. If you do not have mint, use fresh parsley, though the flavor profile will be different.

What I used to make it

Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.

Illustrative image
Ninja Professional BL610 Blender
Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Easy-to-wash jar
- Check the power and jar size
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Illustrative image
TempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
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Illustrative image
T-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized 12" Non-Stick Pan
Eggs, omelets and stir-fries
- Eggs and omelets that don’t stick
- Comfortable, sturdy handle
- Use wooden or silicone utensils
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