Plantain and Coconut Beef Soup Recipe

This is a traditional Gambian recipe for a classic rich stew of plantains and beef with onions, tomatoes and peas in a coconut milk base. 

Note that in West African parlance this is a soup not a stew. Stews are served with rice and soups are stews that are served with fufu, pounded yam or pap (maize porridge). 


Ingredients: 

• 1kg lean beef, cut into 2cm cubes 
• 5 plantains (or green bananas), peeled and cut into 3cm pieces 
• 2 large onions, peeled and finely diced 
• 1 large tomato, coarsely chopped 
• 500ml coconut milk 
• 250ml water 
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil 
• 225g peas 
• salt, to taste  

Preparation: 

• Place the cubes of meat in a pan, just cover with water, season with salt, bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and cook for about 40 minutes, or until tender. 
• Heat the vegetable oil in a saucepan and use to fry the onions for about 4 minutes, or until soft and translucent. 
• Add the tomato and the meat mixture (meat and cooking water). Bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes. 
• Now add the coconut milk and bring back to a boil before adding the plantains and the peas. Bring back to a simmer and cook gently for 15 minutes, or until the plantains are tender. 
• Serve either hot on a bed of rice or accompanied by ugali/pap (maize porridge) or fufu.