Stewed Chicken Gizzards with Pumpkin

Welcome to a recipe that celebrates the beauty of simple, rustic cuisine! Stewed Chicken Gizzards with Pumpkin is a traditional Eastern European comfort food that transforms affordable ingredients into a dish bursting with flavor and warmth. Don't be intimidated by gizzards; when slow-cooked, they become incredibly tender and succulent. Paired with the natural sweetness of pumpkin and a fragrant blend of herbs, this stew is both nourishing and deeply satisfying. It's the perfect hearty meal for a cool evening, promising to fill your kitchen with an irresistible aroma and your belly with wholesome goodness.

Cooking: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Quantity: 4 Servings
Per serving
Calories: 448 kcal
Proteins: 42.5 g
Fats: 27.5 g
Carbohydrates: 10 g

Ingredients for Stewed Chicken Gizzards with Pumpkin

  • 800 g chicken gizzards
  • 200 g carrots
  • 600 g pumpkin
  • a bunch of dill
  • a bunch of parsley
  • 60 g onion
  • 4 cloves of garlic
  • 2-3 bay leaves
  • 50 g butter
  • 30 ml sunflower oil
  • salt, pepper

How to Make Stewed Chicken Gizzards with Pumpkin

Cut the chicken gizzards into small pieces, removing any excess parts. Nowadays, however, they are often sold thoroughly processed and don’t require additional cleaning.

So, wash the prepared and chopped gizzards with cold water, drain them in a colander, and once the water has run off, pat them dry with paper towels.

Raw, cleaned chicken gizzards on a cutting board, ready for cooking.

Clean, rinse, and pat dry the chicken gizzards

Pour sunflower oil into a Dutch oven, add butter, then place the gizzards inside. Add minced garlic cloves and a finely chopped bunch of dill.

Chicken gizzards, garlic, and dill being sautéed in a Dutch oven.

Place the chicken gizzards, chopped garlic, and herbs in a Dutch oven

Next, add thinly sliced onion and coarsely grated carrot to the pot. Add 2-3 bay leaves and sprinkle with ground black pepper.

Sliced onions, grated carrots, and bay leaves added to the gizzards in the pot.

Add sliced onion, grated carrot, and spices

Cover the Dutch oven and simmer on low heat for about an hour, until the meat becomes tender.

Chicken gizzards simmering in a rich broth in a Dutch oven.

Stew the chicken gizzards

Cut the pumpkin in half and use a tablespoon to scrape out the soft, seedy pulp from the inside. Peel the pumpkin and cut the flesh into small cubes.

Add the diced pumpkin to the pot, season with salt to taste, and cook covered for another 25-30 minutes.

Cubed pumpkin being added to the stewed chicken gizzards in the pot.

Dice the pumpkin flesh and add it to the Dutch oven. Salt and stew for 25-30 minutes

Five minutes before it’s done, remove the lid, add a bunch of finely chopped parsley, and stir.

Freshly chopped parsley being added to the finished stew in the pot.

5 minutes before it's ready, add finely chopped herbs

Serve the stewed chicken gizzards with pumpkin hot, and drizzle with smetana (a type of sour cream) to taste.

By the way, you can add the smetana to the stew 10 minutes before it’s ready. To make the sauce thicker, mix it with a tablespoon of all-purpose wheat flour first.

A close-up shot of the finished stewed chicken gizzards with pumpkin in a bowl.

Stewed chicken gizzards with pumpkin

And there you have it—a bowl of pure comfort that's as delicious as it is heartwarming. This Stewed Chicken Gizzards with Pumpkin is a wonderful way to explore traditional flavors and enjoy a truly satisfying meal. For a classic serving experience, ladle it hot and garnish with a dollop of smetana (sour cream) to add a creamy, tangy finish. It pairs beautifully with mashed potatoes, fluffy rice, or a slice of crusty bread to soak up every last drop of the savory sauce. We hope this recipe brings a touch of rustic charm and deliciousness to your table. Enjoy!