Slow-Cooked Kenyan Beef Stew with Ugali

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-21 · Updated 2026-05-21

A hearty beef stew simmered with traditional Kenyan spices, served alongside a classic maize meal ugali for a comforting meal. This African-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 140 minutes, pairs beef chuck, cubed, onion, chopped, garlic cloves, minced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 550 calories and feeds 4, 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

• 1.5 pounds beef chuck, cubed
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp ginger, minced
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 3 cups beef broth
• 3 tbsp cooking oil
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 cups maize flour (cornmeal)
• 4 cups water

The Dutch oven we’d braise this in → Best Dutch Ovens for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 3 tbsp cooking oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Toss 1.5 pounds beef chuck cubes in 2 tbsp all-purpose flour, then brown them in batches for 4-5 minutes until golden on all sides; set aside.
2. Step 2: In the same pot, add 1 large chopped onion, 3 minced garlic cloves, and 1 tbsp minced ginger. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
3. Step 3: Stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste, 1 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper; cook for 2 minutes until the tomato paste darkens slightly.
4. Step 4: Return the beef to the pot and pour in 3 cups beef broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours until the beef is tender and the sauce thickens.
5. Step 5: Meanwhile, bring 4 cups water to a boil in a separate pot. Gradually whisk in 2 cups maize flour, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Cook over medium heat, stirring continuously for 10 minutes until the mixture thickens into a firm, dough-like consistency (ugali).
6. Step 6: Serve the beef stew hot alongside the ugali, tearing portions of ugali with your hands to scoop the stew.