Go Back
Bird's-eye view of a red stew with beef chunks, tomato pieces, and green herbs in a dark sauce.

Nigerian Beef Stew (African Stew)

Beef stew with bell peppers and tomatoes, fried in oil for a rich, savory Nigerian-style sauce. Ready in 65 minutes.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Nigerian
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 kg beef
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 tsp chicken bouillon powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 red bell peppers, blended
  • 3 scotch bonnet peppers, blended
  • 400 g canned chopped tomatoes
  • 1 tsp chicken bouillon powder (or to taste)
  • 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
  • 1/2 tsp curry (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp thyme (optional)

Method
 

  1. Cook beef with bouillon:

    Cook beef with 2 tsp bouillon powder, 1/2 tsp salt, chopped onion, and oregano until fork-tender (20 minutes or more based on cut; tougher cuts need longer). Remove beef, filter stock to discard scum, and set stock aside.

  2. Fry beef until golden:

    Warm vegetable oil in a pot over medium heat until shimmering. Gently fry beef pieces until they turn golden. For a lighter version, grill instead. Transfer fried beef to paper towels to drain.

  3. Cook pepper-tomato puree:

    Into the hot oil, cautiously add the pureed peppers and tomatoes. Stir, cover, and let cook for 10 minutes. Should the stew become too thick, add a splash of reserved stock or water as needed to prevent scorching (note: this is a fried stew, so keep liquid minimal).

  4. Add curry and thyme:

    Mix in curry and thyme (if desired) and stir thoroughly.

  5. Simmer stew with beef:

    Put the fried beef back into the stew. Adjust seasoning with additional bouillon powder and/or salt to taste, but be cautious not to oversalt (recall that salt and bouillon were used during boiling; if using stock, extra may be unnecessary). Stir well and let simmer for 10-15 minutes until oil rises to the surface. Remove from heat and serve warm with a side of choice.