Tomato Stew with Summer Vegetables
Posted on November 4, 2014 by nerinatimm in lamb, vegetables
Tomato stew in summer? Stews are for winter when it is cold and miserable outside and you want something to enjoy in front of a warm fire place!
Tomato Stew is my all time favorite stew! I love stews, curry, bean stew, lamb stew and the South African Classic Waterblommetjie Stew! I am somewhat ashamed to tell this story, but it does illustrate my love for tomato stew, so hear me out without being too judgmental!
I’ve had a struggle with my weight as long as I can remember! I was the fat kid at school! It bothered me then, but now, it bothers me only when I have to shop for clothing. There is ONE thing I love more than being thin and that is EATING, so it is a little problem!
I think my first ever diet I went on was the Mayo Clinic and that was short lived because haddock and poached eggs with NO hollandaise just did not work for me. So I decided one fatal Sunday night that I was going to try yet another quick fix diet, but I told my mom, I wanted to start on the Tuesday and not the Monday, because just for “old time sake”, she had to make tomato stew for me on the Monday. Pretty much like the “last supper”, as if I was never going to see or eat tomato stew ever again! Anyway, mom agreed! My last words as I left for school on the Monday was: Mom, please, I don’t want a little, make a lot!” I missed the twinkle in my mom’s eye, for she was about to teach me a very valuable life lesson!
Well, I tell you, the last period of the school day was the longest ever and I had visions of the glorious tomato stew awaiting me at home! When I got home, our nanny, Griet just said! “Ek dink jy moet gaan uittrek vir daai lelike bord kos” ( I think you should change clothing for that ugly plate of food) When I fetched my plate of stew from the oven, it was an entire platter filled with tomato stew with chunks of lamb neck! A feast for a family, except it was ALL MINE! I polished almost the entire lot and left one piece of meat for supper……. and the meat never made it to supper, I think I ate it at 3!
Did mom’s plan work….. No, no, no! I still love tomato stew, I still have weight issues, but I am happy! Especially if there is a plate of tomato stew in front of me!
I did tweak Griet’s tomato stew a little in that I left the potatoes and added some summer vegetables! I hope you like it!
Tomato Stew with Summer Vegetables
serves 4 – 6
Ingredients
1 kg lamb neck or knuckles
1 large onion chopped
30 ml Olyfberg Olive Oil
15 ml dry coriander
15 ml fennel seeds
4 cloves
4 bay leaves
zest of 1 lemon
2 stock pots
500 ml water
2 cans chopped tomatoes
80 g tomato paste
fresh thyme
salt and pepper
15 ml sugar
400 g fresh baby green beans or asparagus
285 g Woolworths Marinated Artichokes – drained
chopped herbs for serving
Method
Preheat oven to 180 C. Heat the oil in a big pot ( prefer to use the oven as it gives me time to do something else.) Brown the meat and onion until the meat has a light golden crust. Add the spices,stock, salt, pepper, water and lemon zest. Bring to the boil and put the lid back on! Place the pot in the oven for 2 hours or until the meat is tender. Remove pot from the oven and place back on the stove top. Cook with the lid off so that most of the liquid can evaporate. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar and thyme and cook for about 5 minutes. place all the vegetables on top and put the lid back on. It literally takes 3 – 5 minutes to steam-cook the vegetables. Give the stew a gentle stir and serve immediately.
En nou reën dit in die Kaap vandag, perfek vir ‘n groot bord trooskos. My mond water Nina! En so ‘n fraaie kiekie.:)
My friend in South Africa was overweight ,i searched the web and found this recipe.I referred to him immediately to this blog.Things are now well.
I also looooove tomato stew! This looks delicious, Nina!
Tomato stew is perfect ANYTIME! Yesterday I had tomato stew with eggplant and rice – quite suitable for summer season – and it was absolutely perfect!
It looks amazing!
Thank you so much for popping in!
Hello Nina,
My favourite is also tomato stew.
Very informative. Thanks.
Hi Nina, ek is mal oor jou resepte. Maar hoeveel is ‘n “stock pot” in hierdie resep?
Knorr het sulke oulike klein Stock pots!