We had a whole weekend of rain and to top it all I had two sick children - nothing serious, just the sniffles, but they needed mommy's TLC. MY hands were full, doing all sorts of things...rubbing, playing Bratz, drawing, making tea and toast...etc.
Tomato stew is one of those recipes that I grew up with. It hails from the era where no one was ever in a hurry. I am sure you can make a quick version - my sister does in her pressure cooker, but there is nothing more comforting than to have a pot of "something" on the stove.
Slowly cooking along, filling your house with the most amazing aroma. Although South African cooking is full of recipes for all kinds of stews, from Green bean Stew right down to Cabbage stew, my family only eats two of them - Curry and Tomato Stew! Here goes my version of a fragrant and lovely aromatic Tomato Stew( we call it a "bredie - pronounced: brea-di)
Tomato Stew
Ingredients
3 cloves garlic - finely chopped
2 onion - finely chopped
10ml ground coriander
10ml fennel seeds
1 small stick cinnamon
1 kg lamb of beef - you can use boneless, but I used beef brisket, cut in chunks
2 tins chopped tomatoes - or fresh, if you have - about 6 big juicy tomatoes
4-5 large potatoes - peeled and cut in chunks
1 small tin tomato paste
salt and pepper to taste
sugar to taste
juice and zest of a lemon
2 TBS vegetable oil
Fry onion and spices in vegetable oil, add garlic last. Add meat and brown slightly. Now add all tomatoes and tomato paste and cook for 1 hour.Add potatoes and let it cook until potatoes are soft and meat is coming off the bone easily. Add seasoning, lemon juice and sugar.The sugar is important, you can add more(I do), but it is a matter of taste. The stew must not be acidic, but rather deep brown-red in color and slightly sweet.
Serve with white or Basmati rice, a fresh grinding of black pepper and some chopped parsley or coriander.
18 comments:
Nina! Mmmm. Your stew reminds me of how last year this time I was gearing up to go to Johannesburg with my family. For some reason, the pic of the stew and the story behind it made me nostalgic. Thank you!
nikki - how dare you come to South Africa an miss Cape Town - glad I could bring back a memory.
Nina, it's nice to see SA cuisine using an exotic array of spices...tuck in & stay warm!
Nina, hi & thank you for visiting Inn Cuisine - I'm glad you liked my site!
This dish looks hearty, rustic, delicious AND comforting, which is probably the most important thing of all! Also, I peaked at a few of your older posts and loved what I found on pastry. (I'm a big puff pastry person myself---on chicken pot pie, there is nothing better!)
I am so jealous its stew weather there!
MMmmmmm, lamb, lemon zest, tomatoes, fennel seeds... and perfect for the rainy days we are having up here!
This stew looks great. I had never heard of tomato stew. Thats why I love your blog, you are opening up South Africa to me. It may be winter there but I could eat htis now as summer is hit or miss.
A good bredie is exactly what we needed this weekend! I love tomato bredie the best - full of goodness.
Thanks for visiting my blog, I managed to find yours through Rose&Thorn's posting.
Your coffee & walnut cake looks lovely.
This sounds really comforting and delicious Nina! Perfect for administering TLC! :)
Wish I knew you last January, my cousin was in Capetown presenting at a conference and she just wished she had known someone there!
This sounds really good Nina. I agree with you - there is nothing better than a pot of "something" simmering on the stove all day.
peter - I think it is the Indian influences in our eating culture..
sandy - I love finding new sites too and I also like new visitors. Please pop in again.
that girl - are you also a winter person?
daziano - go right ahead and try it!!!!
glamah - stick around, I'll show you plenty more SA recipes.
rose - my favorite bredie too.
nafisa - thanks for finding the time to look for my site. Come again soon!
jenn - please consider this an open invitation - if you or your family comes here again, please pop in.I'll be glad to show you around.
pam - it is comforting isn't it!
Oooh! This really looks amazing! Real comfort food! I'm bookmarking this for cooler weather!
stickygooeycreamychewy - You'll be happy if you do.
mmmmm total comfort food! reminds me a lot of the 'nigerian chili' my friend introduced me to
My ma-in-law also makes a killer tamatiebredie - yours looks heavenly!
Oh my word this sounds amazing, its just a pity I didn't have this recipe for winter, as its a bit hot now to make it, but maybe just maybe there will be a moment to have it.
sounds fun and different.can't wait to try one.
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