Spiced Nigerian-Inspired Beef Stew with Tomatoes and Peppers
A rich, deeply flavored Nigerian-style beef stew simmered with tomatoes, bell peppers, and traditional spices for a hearty meal. This African-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 140 minutes, pairs beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes, vegetable oil, onion, diced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 380 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
- 1.5 lbs beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 small scotch bonnet pepper, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp ginger, grated
- 14 oz canned crushed tomatoes
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp curry powder
- 1.5 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp, for garnish fresh cilantro, chopped
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add 1.5 lbs beef chuck cubes and brown on all sides for about 6-8 minutes, then remove and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same pot, add 1 large diced onion, 1 medium chopped red bell pepper, and 1 small finely chopped scotch bonnet pepper. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Step 3: Stir in 3 minced garlic cloves and 1 tbsp grated ginger, cooking for 1 minute until aromatic.
- Step 4: Add 14 oz canned crushed tomatoes and 2 tbsp tomato paste, cooking for 5 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly.
- Step 5: Return the browned beef to the pot and pour in 2 cups beef broth. Stir in 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 tsp curry powder, 1.5 tsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper.
- Step 6: Bring to a simmer, cover, and reduce heat to low. Cook gently for 1.5 to 2 hours until the beef is tender and the sauce has thickened, stirring occasionally.
- Step 7: Adjust seasoning if needed and garnish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro before serving with rice or flatbread.








