Stewed Nigerian Beef with Tomato and Pepper Sauce

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-24 · Updated 2026-06-24

A rich, slow-cooked Nigerian beef stew featuring tender beef chunks simmered in a vibrant tomato and red pepper sauce, perfect with rice or yam. This african-inspired beef ready in about 140 minutes blends beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes, vegetable oil, large onions, chopped into a versatile sauce that lifts everything from grain bowls and roasted vegetables to grilled proteins — a small-batch staple worth keeping in the fridge. Each serving lands at about 380 calories and feeds 6, so a small batch covers several meals across the week without taking over the fridge. 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
• 4 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 cups large onions, chopped
• 3 cups fresh tomatoes, blended
• 2 medium red bell peppers, blended
• 1 small scotch bonnet pepper, minced
• 4 cloves garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp ginger, grated
• 2 cups beef broth
• 2 cubes seasoning cubes or bouillon
• to taste salt
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme sprigs
• 1 cup water

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 4 tbsp vegetable oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add 2 lbs beef stew meat and brown on all sides for about 8 minutes, then remove and set aside.
2. Step 2: In the same pot, add 2 cups chopped onions and sauté over medium heat for 5 minutes until translucent and fragrant. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and 1 tbsp grated ginger, cooking for another 2 minutes.
3. Step 3: Stir in 3 cups blended fresh tomatoes, 2 blended red bell peppers, and 1 small minced scotch bonnet pepper. Cook this sauce over medium heat for 10 minutes until it thickens and the oil starts to separate.
4. Step 4: Return the browned beef to the pot, add 2 cups beef broth, 1 cup water, 2 seasoning cubes, 2 fresh thyme sprigs, and salt to taste. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer gently for 1.5 to 2 hours until beef is tender and sauce is rich and thickened.
5. Step 5: Remove thyme sprigs, adjust seasoning if needed, and serve hot with steamed rice or boiled yam for an authentic Nigerian beef stew experience.