Serves 6
55 min
West African Vegetable Stew
Recipe GLPRf1542dea22affa
A warming and nourishing West African-inspired stew brimming with sweet potatoes, chickpeas, tender spinach, and warm spices. This hearty one-pot dish combines the natural sweetness of sweet potato and raisins with warming cinnamon and a gentle kick of cayenne, creating layers of complex flavor. Serve it as a satisfying main course that's naturally vegan and packed with fiber and nutrients.
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Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 cups onions, sliced into thin crescents
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1 pound sweet potato, peeled and cut into small bite-sized pieces
1 large tomato, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup raisins
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
1 14.5-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
3 cups frozen chopped spinach, thawed
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Directions
Heat the vegetable oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Once shimmering, add the sliced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes until they begin to soften and turn translucent.
Add the minced garlic to the pot and cook for another minute, stirring constantly, until fragrant.
Stir in the cinnamon and cayenne pepper, cooking for 30 seconds to bloom the spices and release their aromas.
Add the chopped sweet potato and fresh tomato to the pot, stirring to combine all ingredients. Cook for about 2 minutes.
Pour in the vegetable broth and bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 15-20 minutes until the sweet potatoes are nearly tender.
Stir in the drained chickpeas and raisins. Simmer for another 5 minutes to warm through and allow the raisins to plump slightly.
Squeeze any excess moisture from the thawed spinach and add it to the pot, stirring to distribute evenly. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until the spinach is fully incorporated and warmed through.
Season the stew with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Adjust the spice level if desired by adding more cayenne pepper. Serve hot.
