Description
Hearty ginger sweet potato coconut milk stew delivers comforting warmth from West African culinary traditions. Lentils and kale provide robust nutrition, while coconut milk creates silky richness you’ll savor with each nourishing spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced (about 3 cups)
- 1 cup (200g) dried red or green lentils, rinsed
- 1 (14 oz/400ml) can coconut milk (full-fat or light)
- 4 cups (1 liter) vegetable broth or water
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups (60g) chopped kale or spinach (stems removed)
- 1 tbsp olive oil or coconut oil
- 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp lime juice or lemon juice
- fresh cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
- Sauté Foundation: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium flame, then add onions and cook until softened and translucent.
- Aromatic Layering: Introduce minced garlic, grated ginger, cumin, turmeric, and paprika, stirring continuously to activate their intense flavors without scorching.
- Vegetable Integration: Add diced sweet potatoes to the spice-infused base, allowing them to absorb the rich aromatics while maintaining their structural integrity.
- Liquid Transformation: Pour coconut milk into the pot, creating a creamy broth, then incorporate rinsed lentils and allow the mixture to simmer gently.
- Final Flourish: When lentils are nearly tender, fold in chopped kale, letting it wilt and meld with the stew’s complex flavor profile. Season with salt and pepper, adjusting to taste.
- Resting Period: Remove from heat and let the stew rest for a few minutes, allowing the flavors to harmonize and intensify before serving.
Notes
- Optimize Ingredient Preparation: Dice sweet potatoes and chop kale uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the stew, preventing undercooked or overcooked sections.
- Control Spice Intensity: Adjust ginger and spice quantities based on personal preference, starting with moderate amounts and gradually increasing to find your ideal flavor balance without overwhelming the dish.
- Prevent Lentil Overcooking: Monitor lentil cooking time carefully, checking tenderness periodically to avoid mushy texture; different lentil varieties require varying cooking durations for optimal consistency.
- Enhance Dietary Flexibility: Easily transform this stew into vegan, gluten-free, and protein-rich meal by selecting high-quality, fresh ingredients and maintaining the core cooking technique that preserves nutritional integrity.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 0mg