Creamy Tanzanian Coconut Bean Stew with Plantains

Name: Creamy Tanzanian Coconut Bean Stew with Plantains
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: Vegetable oil; Onion; Garlic cloves; Ginger; Ground turmeric; Ground cumin; Cooked kidney beans; Coconut milk; Vegetable broth; Salt & black pepper; Ripe plantains; Vegetable oil; Fresh cilantro; Lime

A comforting and flavorful East African dish

This rich and aromatic stew combines creamy coconut milk with tender beans and sweet plantains, perfect for a cozy dinner.

1 h 30 min
4
Intermediate

Ingredients

For the Stew Base

Vegetable oil

2 tablespoons

Onion

1 large, finely chopped

Garlic cloves

3, minced

Ginger

1-inch piece, grated

Ground turmeric

1 teaspoon

Ground cumin

1 teaspoon

For the Coconut Bean Stew

Cooked kidney beans

2 cups (or 1 can, drained and rinsed)

Coconut milk

1 can (14 oz)

Vegetable broth

2 cups

Salt & black pepper

To taste

For the Plantains

Ripe plantains

2, peeled and sliced into rounds

Vegetable oil

1 tablespoon

For the Garnish

Fresh cilantro

1/4 cup, chopped

Lime

1, cut into wedges

Preparation

Marinating the Plantains

Place plantains

Place sliced plantains in a bowl.

Drizzle oil

Drizzle with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil.

Toss to coat

Toss to coat evenly and set aside for frying.

Preparing the Stew Base

Heat oil

Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat.

Sauté onion

Add chopped onion and sauté until translucent (about 5 minutes).

Add a splash of water if the onions start sticking to the pot.

Add garlic & ginger

Stir in garlic and ginger, cooking for another 2 minutes until fragrant.

Ensure the spices do not burn, as this will cause the stew to become bitter.

Cooking Process

Sauté the spices

Add turmeric and cumin to the onion mixture, cooking for 1 minute until aromatic.

Combine ingredients

Pour in the coconut milk, vegetable broth, and kidney beans, stirring well.

Simmer

Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low and let simmer for 25–30 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.

Plating & Serving