Slow-Cooked Kenyan Beef Stew with Sweet Potatoes and Peas

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-16 · Updated 2026-05-16

Hearty beef stew simmered slowly with sweet potatoes, peas, and traditional Kenyan spices for a comforting and flavorful meal. This African-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 115 minutes, pairs beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes, vegetable oil, large onion, chopped for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 (about 1 cup) large onion, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 14 oz (1 can) diced tomatoes (canned)
• 2 medium (about 2 cups) sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 3 cups beef broth
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 3 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add 2 pounds beef stew meat cubes and brown on all sides for 5-6 minutes until caramelized. Remove beef and set aside.
2. Step 2: In the same pot, add 1 cup chopped onion, 4 minced garlic cloves, and 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until fragrant and softened.
3. Step 3: Stir in 2 tablespoons tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes, then add 14 ounces canned diced tomatoes, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Cook for 3 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
4. Step 4: Return browned beef to the pot and pour in 3 cups beef broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 hour.
5. Step 5: Add 2 cups peeled and cubed sweet potatoes and continue to simmer covered for another 30 minutes until beef is tender and sweet potatoes are soft.
6. Step 6: Stir in 1 cup frozen peas and cook for 5 more minutes uncovered until peas are heated through. Adjust seasoning if needed and serve warm.