Nigerian Tomato Stew Recipe: How To Make Nigerian Stew In 2023 (Complete Guide) - Food Plus Words (2024)

This Nigerian Tomato Stew recipe is the perfect way to spice up your weeknight dinner routine!

Chock full of flavorful tomatoes, onions, and spices, this hearty stew is sure to please even the pickiest eaters.

Nigerian tomato stew, also known as African stew, is a popular dish in Nigeria and West Africa.

Almost every Nigerian household, especially the Yorubas, make this regularly, especially on Sundays with the famous Sunday rice.

It is a rich blend of tomatoes, onions, pepper, seasoning, and spice that is prepared with any meat or fish and served with any Nigerian staple dish.

Ah! Thoughts of this mouth-watering African chicken stew bring back childhood memories. I remember my mom and elder siblings waking up early on Sunday morning to get this dish going.

And I remember looking forward to the end of Sunday service so I could finally savor the flavor of stew and rice served with a cold bottle of soft drink.

Keep reading this post to get complete details on how to cook this easy Nigerian beef stew (or chicken stew) in no time.

The Nigerian stew is super easy to make. It takes an hour or less to finish preparations.

Nigerian Stew Ingredients

• 2 Ibs cooked meat (beef) – Any meat cut from tough meat cuts to lean beef or stewing beef can be used for making beef for Nigerian stew. It depends on your cut-out choice.

  The best beef cuts for Nigerian tomatoes stew are lean with a high concentration of collagen-rich connective tissues—such as chuck or shoulder cuts—that also have some fat marbling for flavor.

  Varieties of beef parts like tripe, ponmo (beef skin), beef liver, or beef kidney can also be used when preparing this delicious stew.

• 3 Ibs Plum Tomatoes (Blended) – Plum tomatoes, preferably Roma, also known as Italian plum tomatoes, are perfect for Nigerian tomato stew because they have low water content and are usually very sweet when in season.

  It is pretty tender on the outside with fewer seeds, which helps improve the flavor and mouthfeel of the stew.

• 3 large Red Bell Peppers – Red bell peppers or Romano peppers are called “tatashe” by Yorubas in Nigeria.

  It is a common ingredient in African soups and stews. Its thinner flesh gives the stew a much fuller flavor.

• 4 Cayenne pepper – This pepper adds a nice kick to this Nigerian stew. The flavor is rich and the heat is very warming. To control the heat, remove the seeds from some or all of the cayenne pepper.
• 2 Scotch bonnet pepper – This is the regular pepper used in Nigeria. The Yorubas call it “Ata rodo”. It is a wonderful source of vitamin C, A, E, and B5. It gives the stew the popular Nigerian spicy-ness.
• 1 Large onion (Chopped) – The red onion is the most preferable for the Nigerian tomato stew because of its spiciness and aromatic flavor.
• Vegetable oil
• 2 Knorr Cubes <- chicken or beef flavor depending on your protein
• 2 Tsp thyme (Optional)
• 1 Tspcurry powder (Optional) <- exact brand I grew up using
• 1 tinned tomato paste – The tinned tomato paste is optional. It is usually used to thicken and improve the redness of the tomato stew, making it look richer and tastier.

  If you don’t want to use tomato paste, replace it with fresh plum tomatoes. In Nigeria, it is common to use tatashe (big red bell peppers) to improve the redness of the tomato stew.

See Also

A Country Captain Recipe From a New Cookbook All About RiceHow To Make Nigerian Fried Rice: Best Recipe EverJollof Rice + Instant Pot Jollof Rice (GF, Vegan) - Recipes From A PantryJollof Spaghetti Recipe

Tools Needed To Prepare Nigerian Tomato Stew

To make this famous Nigerian Stew, you’ll need:

• A food processor or blender
• Cooking Pot <- what I ♥️ & use
• Wooden Spatula/Cooking Spoon
• Knives
• Medium-size bowl for blended pepper mix
• A Chopping board
• Measuring cup and spoons

Ingredient Substitutions To Make Nigerian Stew

Making this delicious stew doesn’t have to be difficult! Here are a few easy ingredient substitutions that you can try to get a similar taste:

• Powdered or dried onion can be used in place of the organic red onion
• Chicken, turkey, goat meat, or any protein of choice can be used in place of beef
• Powdered cayenne pepper can be used in place of the organic cayenne
• Palm oil, peanut oil, coconut oil, or olive oil can be used in place of vegetable oil
• We can use beef stock (broth) in addition to, or in place of knorr cube and salt

Meat or fish stock helps blind the sour taste in the tomato stew. It also makes the tomatoes stew taste better.

Ensure the meat broth (stock) is not too much to prevent your stew from being too salty or too watery.

How to Make The Most Delicious Nigerian Tomato Stew (Step By Step Guide)

Ingredients

• 2 lbs cooked meat (beef)
• 3 lbs Plum tomatoes (blended)
• 1 large onion (chopped)
• 2 Scotch bonnet peppers
• 3 large Bell peppers
• 1 tinned tomato paste
• Vegetable oil
• 1 tsp Curry powder
• 2 tsp Dried thyme
• 2 knorr cubes
• Salt (to taste)

Instructions

STEP 1: Blend the tomatoes, bell peppers, and scotch bonnet peppers together and set aside.

STEP 2: Add oil to the cooking pot and fry chopped onions on medium heat.

STEP 3: Once the onion caramelizes, add tomato paste and fry until the mixture starts to separate.

STEP 4: Now, add the blended tomatoes, bell peppers, and scotch bonnet to the cooking pot.

STEP 5: Cook until most of the water has evaporated. The stew would reduce to about half its size.

STEP 6: Add curry powder, dried thyme leaves, seasoning cubes, and salt. Optionally add the meat stock from your cooked meat, if you have it.

STEP 7: Add your choice of meat.

STEP 8: Cover pot and cook on low-medium heat for 5-10 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent the tomato stew from burning.

STEP 9: Adjust salt and serve.

Tips About Making This Nigerian Stew Recipe

• To reduce the spiciness of the Nigerian tomato stew, use half of the scotch bonnet pepper listed in the ingredient or add more tomatoes to reduce the hotness. Do not omit it as the taste will be drastically different if you do.
• To prevent a bitter taste, remove the seeds from the bell peppers before use.
• Do not add extra seasoning without tasting stew when using the meat stock to prevent stew from being too salty
• Use knorr cubes and salt to make stew If meat stock is unavailable.
• To make Nigerian stew extra dry, sieve out the water from the tomato after blending by gently pouring it into a sieve and allowing the water to drain out.
• If the stew will not be eaten immediately, wait 10 to 20 minutes for the stew to cool, then serve the stew into resealable containers and store.
• For a smoky flavor, use fire-roasted tomatoes.

What to Serve With Nigerian Tomato Stew Recipe

This Nigerian stew recipe can go with almost anything, especially popular staple foods in Nigeria like:

• Rice (White rice, coconut rice, Ofada rice, Chinese rice, and so on)
• Pasta
• Yam
• Potatoes
• Bread
• Plantain
• Beans

Nigerians also use tomato stew to complement some bland soups (like Ewedu and Okra soup) when eating Swallows like amala, fufu, semovita, eba, wheat, and poundo yam among others.

How To Store Nigerian Stew

The Nigerian tomato stew can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer.

Refrigerator: This recipe can be stored for up to a week in the fridge. Make sure the stew is cooled to room temperature, then refrigerate in a resealable container.

Freezer: The Nigerian stew can be stored for up to 4 months in the freezer. To freeze, let the stew cool completely.

Distribute into a microwave-safe resealable bowl and freeze. When you are ready to serve, you can reheat it straight from the freezer or let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

FAQ About Nigerian Tomato Stew

What are stewed tomatoes?

Stewed tomatoes is a dish that combines the fresh flavor of tomatoes with different ingredients and aromatics such as onions, bell peppers, and dried herbs in a slow-cooked preparation.

The ingredients together create a saucy but slightly chunky mixture full of flavor. Stewed tomatoes are popular across the globe, including in Italian and Mexican cuisines.

They make a great base or side for a variety of meals and are easy to whip up within an hour.

Are stewed tomatoes healthy?

With tomatoes as the primary ingredient, you can count on a boost of antioxidant vitamins C and A from stewed tomatoes. They’re also an excellent source of iron and B vitamins.

What can I substitute for stewed tomatoes?

In case stewed tomatoes are not available, the following substitutes can be used depending on the desired texture and taste:

• Diced Tomatoes
• Canned Tomatoes
• Crushed Tomatoes
• Tomato sauce
• Tomato puree
• Fresh tomato
• Tomato paste

Nigerian Tomato Stew Recipe: How To Make Nigerian Stew

Yield: 1 pot

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Additional Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Chock full of flavorful tomatoes, onions, and spices, this hearty Nigerian Tomato Stew recipe is sure to please even the pickiest eaters.

Ingredients

Nigerian Tomato Stew Recipe

• 2 lbs cooked meat (beef)
• 3 lbs Plum tomatoes (blended)
• 1 large onion (chopped)
• 2 Scotch bonnet peppers
• 3 large Bell peppers
• 1 tinned tomato paste
• Vegetable oil
• 1 tsp Curry powder
• 2 tsp Dried thyme
• 2 knorr cubes
• Salt (to taste)

Instructions

1. Blend the tomatoes, bell peppers, and scotch bonnet peppers together and set aside.
2. Add oil to cooking pot and fry chopped onions on medium heat.
3. Once the onion caramelizes, add tomato paste and fry until the mixture starts to separate (see photo).
4. Now, add the blended tomatoes, bell peppers, and scotch bonnet to the cooking pot.
5. Cook until most of the water has evaporated. The stew would reduce to about half its size.
6. Add curry powder, dried thyme leaves, seasoning cubes, and salt. Optionally add the meat stock from your cooked meat, if you have it.
7. Add your choice of meat.
8. Cover pot and cook on low-medium heat for 5-10 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent the tomato stew from burning.
9. Adjust salt and serve.

Notes

• To reduce the spiciness of the Nigerian tomato stew, use half of the scotch bonnet pepper listed in the ingredient or add more tomatoes to reduce the hotness. Do not omit it as the taste will be drastically different if you do.
• To prevent a bitter taste, remove the seeds from the bell peppers before use.
• Do not add extra seasoning without tasting stew when using the meat stock to prevent stew from being too salty
• Use knorr cubes and salt to make stew If meat stock is unavailable.
• To make Nigerian stew extra dry, sieve out the water from the tomato after blending by gently pouring it into a sieve and allowing the water to drain out.
• If the stew will not be eaten immediately, wait 10 to 20 minutes for the stew to cool, then serve the stew into resealable containers and store.
• For a smoky flavor, use fire-roasted tomatoes.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 10Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 266Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 83mgSodium: 132mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 3gSugar: 6gProtein: 27g

* Please note that all nutrition information are just estimates. Values will vary among brands, so we encourage you to calculate these on your own for the most accurate results.

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Conclusion

Aside from its amazing benefits, Nigerian tomato stew is a hearty recipe that can be eaten both on special occasions and as an everyday side dish.

In Nigeria, this stew is enjoyed with white rice or jollof rice and plantain. It can also serve as the perfect vegan stew when made without fish or meat.

Your turn! Have you tried this finger-licking Nigerian stew? Drop a comment below to share your thoughts.

And if you haven’t tried this flavorful tomato stew, give it a try today and let us know what you think about it!

I hope you found this recipe post about how to make Nigerian stew helpful. For more, check out this list of African dishes worth trying. Here are a few suggestions:

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