Caribbean Vegetable Stew Recipes

SANCOCHO (DOMINICAN MEAT AND VEGETABLES STEW)

Steps:

• Trim the excess fat of the meat and rinse well with lemon juice or vinegar.
• To season the meat, add 1 teaspoon dry adobo, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon oregano and sofrito. Mix it all together to coat the meat well.
• In a 6 qts pot or caldero, heat up oil over medium high heat. Add the meat to the pot, and sear until brown all around. Cover the pot with a lid and lower the heat to medium. Let the meat cook until tender, about 30 - 40 minutes. Be sure to add water as needed throughout so that the meat doesn't burn. Remove the meat from the pot and set it aside for later.
• While the meat cooks, peel and cut the vegetables into 1-inch pieces, except for the squash, which you want to peel and cut into two large pieces.
• Add all the vegetables to the pot and add water until you've filled ¾ of the pot. Bring to a boil. Do not overfill the pot because you will be adding in the meat later.
• When the water begins to boil, add the chicken bouillon and allspice or malagueta. Let it cook for about 15 - 20 minutes.
• When the squash is tender, remove it from the pot and blend it with ½ cup of liquid from the pot and ½ cup of cool water until the mixture is smooth. Then, pour it back into the pot.
• Using cooking twine, tie together tightly cilantro, culantro (cilantro ancho), and thyme and add it to the pot. Let it simmer on medium heat for about 20 more minutes.
• Stir in ½ teaspoon of adobo, ½ teaspoon of oregano, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper to taste.
• Add the meat back into the pot and let it all simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 10 - 20 minutes.
• With a colander, remove the herbs bundle we added earlier and the malagueta.
• Stir in freshly squeezed lime juice before serving.
• Serve warm with white rice and avocado.

CARIBBEAN VEGETABLE STEW

Steps:

• In a stock pot or soup pot, heat oil over medium heat; saute onions for 4-5 minutes.
• Add the cabbage and chile or cayenne; saute, stirring often, for about 8 minutes or until the onion is transparent.
• Add the grated ginger and water; cover, and bring to a boil.
• Uncover and add the sweet potatoes and salt to taste; simmer for 5-6 minutes or until the potatoes are barely tender.
• Add the tomatoes, okra, and lime juice.
• Continue to simmer for about 15 minutes or until all the vegetables are tender.
• Add in the cilantro and more salt if needed; stir to combine.
• Ladle soup into individual bowls; sprinkle with chopped peanuts and enjoy.

CARIBBEAN STYLE VEGETABLE STEW

Steps:

• In a saucepot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add red onion, garlic and ginger, stirring continuously so as not to burn. After 2 minutes add the curry paste, habanero and bay leaves until well incorporated. Add peppers and stir again cooking for 2 minutes. Add zucchini and squash and cook for another 2 minutes. The mixture should be well coated at this point. If it starts to burn, lower the heat and add a little water to stop the burning on the bottom of the pan. Add the coconut milk and cilantro. Salt and pepper to taste. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, for at least a 1/2 hour, stirring occasionally.
• During the cooking process you can adjust the balance of moisture by adding water or coconut milk so the consistency stays stew like. Adjust the salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve over rice.

CARIBBEAN VEGETABLE STEW

Steps:

• In a nonreactive soup pot, saute the onions in the oil on medium heat for 4 or 5 minutes. Add the cabbage and the chile or cayenne and continue to saute, stirring often, until the onions are translucent, about 8 minutes.
• Add the grated ginger and the water, cover the pot, and bring to a boil. Stir in the sweet potatoes, sprinkle with salt, and simmer for 5 or 6 minutes, until the potatoes are barely tender. Add the tomatoes, okra, and lime juice. Simmer until all of the vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in the cilantro and add more salt to taste.
• Sprinkle the stew with chopped peanuts. Top with a few sprigs of cilantro, if you like.
• Serve the stew on rice or with a fresh crusty bread