Potato stew is rather common in Kenya. Probablly because you can throw in various ingredients and having them cook all at once. This saves plenty of time. Unfortunately for most, this meal falls short of flavor. But in our home, we have found a way to have this taste great all the time. After years of tweaking my mum’s recipe, we finally settled on the best potato stew.
I shared this picture on Instagram and Face book a while back and it received quite a nice reception. I decided to share our family recipe today and I know you will like it. Regardless of what you make, no matter how basic, never ever compromise on how it tastes and looks. For today: Pea and Potato Stew
PREP TIME: 15 MINUTES COOK TIME:40 MINUTES SERVES: 7
Ingredients
4 tomatoes, grated
2 tablespoons of tomato paste
1 large onion, diced
3 carrots, cubed
2 beef cubes
4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1 tablespoon of ground cumin
2 tablespoons of royco
1/2 tablespoon of black pepper
1 can of peas, boiled
5 large potatoes, cubed
1 green bell pepper finely diced
Fresh coriander for garnish
Salt to taste
Method
In a sufuria, heat some vegetable oil and add the onions and garlic. Add the black pepper, cumin powder and salt so that they cook with the onions at this stage.
Once the onions have softened, add the tomatoes and the tomato paste. Add 1/4 cup of hot water and let this simmer for about 4 minutes. Then add the carrots and the beef cubes (if you have royco that is ok too). Then, let these simmer for about 2 minutes. Then add your potatoes.
***
While adding the water as you cook, add 1/4 cup of hot water at a time instead of a huge jugful at one go. This will allow you to maintain a nice thick soup. You can always add more soup, but you can not fix a watery soup. So add the water bit by bit until you attain your desired soup thickness.
***
The smaller you cut your potatoes and dice your carrots, the quicker they will get done. In addition to that, this will make the food look really good and increase its visual appeal. Also, because a lot of the surface area is exposed, the flavor seeps into each component more effectively. Lastly, cutting them up this way allows you to have a taste of everything on a single bite. That is why I like cutting up my potatoes and carrots really small.
Once the potatoes are almost done, add the peas and the green bell pepper. The peas are added towards the end because they were already boiled prior. The bell pepper is also added towards the end so that they do not overcook and maintain their color too.
You will know the stew is ready when a fork passes through easily through one of the potatoes. Once you have confirmed this garnish and serve hot.
This potato stew would be fantastic with rice, chapati or your preferred starch. A basic Kenyan meal, with elevated taste and flavor profile. Check out and try out my rich njahi recipe, my phenomenal ndengus and delicious bean stew if you are looking for something Kenyan with stratospheric taste…Only the best recipes for you guys *wink*
Doesn’t it look fantastic?
A taste of everything in a single bite.
And I know you can not wait to try this potato stew out 🙂
XX
-K
Download the full recipe here
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Hey there! My name is Kaluhi and I love food! Through my blog, I am happy to share with you my self-taught recipes, steeped in nostalgia and the happiest of memories. I hope each recipe you try out is as addictive as the previous one and is shared on a table full of love and hearty laughs!
I made this tonight & it was a huge success. Who knew I would ever enjoy being in the kitchen?! I will download (and try) all your recipes. Thanks for making cooking easy for us girl!
Cooking is very fun isnt it?? Glad you enjoyed my recipes Beth 🙂
My future wife must learn how to cook like this. Damn!
LOL! She will. Just introduce her to this blog and it will be easy from there:)
Hi Kaluhi!
First off, I love love love this blog! And your pictures, the graphics….Thumbs up! I shared your blog with my workmates last week and we spent a whole afternoon drooling and picking recipes we want to try out.
Sadly, I haven’t been getting my email updates, especially since June. I tried to subscribe again and it hasn’t gone through. I don’t know what the issue is. Please advise.
Also, do you have any healthy recipes on mushrooms and tips on how to pick out mushrooms in the supermarket?
What is your take on mushrooms in relation to health especially weight loss and blood sugar?
Thanks!
Hey Rose,
You have just put a huge smile on my face today! Thank you for sharing my blog with your work mates too. I appreciate.
I had not noticed that the email subscription had a problem. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I will fix it as soon as I can.
I have two mushroom recipes on the blog already, you can look them up. On how to pick mushrooms, I think you just have to look at the freshness. They have to be tout and evenly colored. Any sogginess or discoloration should raise flags. Also, there are so many types of mushrooms, hence different people love different types. Try a couple and decide which one you will like best. I ended up LOVING chestnut mushrooms. They are so so good.
Mushrooms are very healthy. I highlighted some of the benefits in one of the mushroom posts. With regard to weight loss, I think they make a good substitute to meats and make you fuller for longer so that may help. I unfortunately happen not to know how they may help with blood sugar as I am not a nutritionist.
Thank you so much for your response. I will definitely check out the recipes and get started!
Keep those yummy recipes coming! 🙂
Take pics as you cook and tag me on instagram. I would totally love to see how it all turns out 🙂
Dang!I saw the link to your blog at thisisess.com after you sweetly replied to my comment and I am OBSESSED!Especially since I have been looking into learing new recipes.You’ll definitely see more of me here!
Love!
Hey Hendrica :),
I am more than happy to give encouragement to my fellow sister. We will all make it one day. And I am so pleased that you love my blog and the recipes. Honored to have you as a reader.
Sorry Kaluhikitchen, I have already downloaded most of your recipes for my wife and myself. She’s so kitchen adventurous. I dint know that even some simple foods we prepare can be made to be so amazing. It’s definately very African. I love it all.
No need to apologize Choi! I am totally honored, and actually touched that I get to transform yours and your wife’s cooking. Eating good food is really not that complicated nor difficult. Happy you realized this via my blog
The best recipe ever seen with clear pictures. Am gonna give try very soon.
Thank you so much! Looking forward to your feedback.
Made this for my boyfriend. He loved it! Thanks for the recipe.
If bae loves it, you know it is A1!!!! Thanks for trying this out :))
as swahili says leo ni leo msema kesho mwongo….i must try this for my boyfred,,,he used to tel me am the best cook ,,,i must try this n i know he will absolutly luv t
<3
I love this. Will have to try it. Thanks for sharing.
<3
I simply love your recipes. Easy to follow and by explaining what the purpose of each ingredient, I can easily find a replacement at home.
I will use this tonight.
<3 <3 <3
I LOVE this i will be a frequent visitor here
You are most welcome! <3
Just made this. It came out great ❤
Yaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!
On your recipe now. Let me see how it turns out.
An easy, but really tasty one! I am sure you will enjoy <3
I just tried this recipe ….Can’t believe I made food that’s so tasty. Will definitely come back here more recipes.
Thank you so much 😃😆!
So happy you aced this and enjoyed!!! <3
I must say I love every bit of what I have made using your recipe. Today there are no left overs. My kids cleared everything. God bless you. Hapa siwezi hama
Cheers!!
Hello Kaluhi. A can of peas is how many grams in this recipe?
Cant recall. Any amount will be ok, dont overthink please. Add as many or as little peas as is enough for your potatoes
Hi Kaluhi,
Are there any ground/ or whole spices I should use when boiling the peas or just water only is good enough?
Boiling with water only makes the peas taste so dull!
Just boil the peas.
Hi, how do I boil my peas without them loosing the nice green color…
By not overboiling. Once they are just done, toa kwa moto immediately, run them through cold water then set aside.