Chikwanda (Zambian Sweet Potato Stew)

Chikwanda is a Zambian stew that showcases the natural sweetness of sweet potatoes in a rich and savory sauce.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 tomato, diced
• 1 hot pepper (optional, for heat), chopped
• 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 carrot, peeled and sliced
• 2 cups vegetable broth or water
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
• Salt, to taste

Steps

1. In a large pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat.
2. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the pot. Sauté until the onions are soft and translucent.
3. Add the diced tomato and chopped hot pepper (if using) to the pot. Cook until the tomato is soft and tender.
4. Stir in the ground cumin, ground cayenne pepper, and ground turmeric, coating the vegetables with the spices.
5. Add the diced sweet potatoes and sliced carrot to the pot. Mix well with the spiced vegetables.
6. Pour in the vegetable broth or water, ensuring that the sweet potatoes and carrots are mostly submerged.
7. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cover the pot with a lid.
8. Let the stew cook for about 20–25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sweet potatoes and carrots are tender and cooked through.
9. Season the stew with salt to taste, adjusting the seasoning according to your preference.
10. Remove the pot from the heat and let the stew rest for a few minutes before serving.

More recipes with onion, garlic, tomatoes, sweet potato, carrots, broth or stock, cumin, cayenne pepper or turmeric

Adapted from “Chikwanda (Zambian Sweet Potato Stew)” in the Wikibooks Cookbook by its contributors, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Reformatted for this site; this page's recipe text is shared under the same license.