Hi Patricia, you still need to add the water. The canned lentils are a substitute for the pre-soaked lentils, but the water is still necessary to create the stew. Enjoy! Xx

Thank you, Tom. I also found your information to be very helpful. Thank you for taking the time to answer the question and to give the depth of information you did. I’m sure others have found it to be most helpful too!

Hi Joan,

Yes, you can use canned pumpkin in your warm chicken lentil stew. Canned pumpkin is often thicker than fresh pumpkin, so a good rule of thumb is to use about 1 cup of canned pumpkin to replace the 2 cups of chopped fresh pumpkin in the recipe.

As for cooking time, you can add the canned pumpkin towards the end of the cooking process. Since it is already cooked, you only need to heat it through. After adding the potatoes, let the stew simmer for about 10-15 minutes before adding the canned pumpkin, then cook for an additional 5 minutes or until everything is heated through.

This adjustment will help maintain the texture and flavors of the stew while ensuring the pumpkin is well incorporated. Enjoy your cooking!