There are some recipes that everyone loves, whether they are omnivores or vegans, and this African vegetable stew is undeniably good. It’s made with the most enticing mixture of vegetables, beans, and even dried apricots for a little sweetness, all swimming in a creamy coconut milk broth full of flavor.
If you’ve never tried it, it’ll quickly become part of your regular weeknight rotation. Plus, it’s a slow cooker recipe, so it will slow cook for hours while you’re out and about. Serve it with a bed of baked rice, homemade chapati, or a little gluten free cornbread to absorb every last drop.
Why You’ll Love This African Vegetable Stew
- Rich and hearty - With a mixture of sweet potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, beans, and coconut milk, this African stew will stick to your ribs all night. It’s so satisfying!
- Slow cooker friendly - The best recipes simmer away for hours in the slow cooker while you go on with your life; this stew is no exception. It needs about 15 minutes of prep work, then 4 hours in the crockpot.
- Feeds a crowd - Because this stew is so filling, a little goes a long way! One batch makes enough for 8 servings, so it’s plenty for a big family or to enjoy leftovers for days!
Ingredients
- Olive oil
- Vidalia onion - Sweet onions pair perfectly with sweet potatoes and apricots.
- Garlic - For the freshest flavor, use store-bought garlic.
- Sweet potatoes - Peel and dice your favorite type of sweet potatoes. Garnet yams are a great substitute.
- Red bell pepper - Remove the stem and seeds, then chop it into small pieces.
- Jalapenos - Strain a can of jalapenos; Adjust the heat to your palate.
- Tomatoes - Add the diced tomatoes and juice to help flavor the broth.
- Black beans - Be sure to rinse the beans well to avoid adding a purple hue to the stew.
- Vegetable broth
- Seasonings - Season the soup with a mixture of dried thyme, ground allspice, and salt & pepper.
- Apricots - Dried apricots add a sweet, tangy flavor that is so much fun! Be sure to dice them into small pieces.
- Baby spinach - Fresh spinach will wilt into the stew and add extra nutrients.
- Coconut milk - Use unsweetened coconut milk, either lite or regular.
Variations
- Stovetop African stew - Instead of moving all ingredients to the slow cooker, cook everything in a large soup pot. Let it simmer over medium-low for about an hour or until the sweet potatoes are fork-tender.
- Add chicken - This stew would taste wonderful with some leftover rotisserie chicken and chicken broth!
- Garnish with cilantro and peanuts - Add some chopped peanuts and fresh cilantro on top for a pop of color and a little crunch.
How to Make African Vegetable Stew
The original recipe is Crockpot Callaloo Soup, which came from Robin Robertson's Fresh from the Vegan Slow Cooker cookbook.
- Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Sauté the onions until they are almost transparent.
- Add the garlic and cook for another minute or so (don’t let it brown).
- Dump the onion mixture into the slow cooker pot.
- Add everything except the apricots, spinach, and coconut milk. Stir.
- Cook on high for 3 hours (or low for 5 hours).
- Add the apricots. Continue cooking on high for another 45 minutes or so.
- Stir in the spinach and coconut milk and cook for another half hour.
- Serve over rice, if desired.
Expert Tips
- Build flavor - Slowly saute the aromatic vegetables to release their flavors. This process is too important to skip!
- Deglaze the pan - Add about ¼ cup of water or broth to the pot after sauteing the garlic and onions. This will pick up any flavorful browned bits to add them back to the broth.
- Don’t overcook - One drawback of slow cooking is that we often forget to taste or touch the food to see how well it is done. It’s very easy to overcook sweet potatoes, turning them into orange-colored mush. Stop cooking when the potatoes are fork-tender.
Recipe FAQs
Anytime you have a soup with hearty root vegetables like sweet potatoes, you typically do not have to thicken the stew. The vegetables will absorb the broth instead. Potatoes will also release starches back into the broth to thicken it naturally.
Although it is not common, dried apricots can be added to a wide variety of recipes, including savory dishes. They have a wonderfully dense texture and sweet, tart flavor. The apricot absorbs any broth or gravy in soups or stews, becoming plump and tender. They’re a great way to add sweetness or tanginess to recipes, similar to tamarind.
If you don’t have dried apricots on hand, check your pantry for other types of dried fruits. Raisins, especially golden raisins, are a great alternative. Prunes can work, too.
Related Recipes
- Spicy Vegetarian Stew
- French Vegetable Stew
- French Barley Salad
- French Potato Salad
- Mediterranean Chickpea Stew
- Vegan Mexican Red Rice
African Stew
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large Vidalia onion diced, about 2 cups of mild, sweet onion
- 3 cloves garlic minced, about 1 ½ teaspoons
- 2 medium sweet potatoes peeled and diced
- 1 medium red bell pepper seeded and chopped
- 1 teaspoon diced canned jalapenos
- 14.5 ounces petite diced tomatoes one can, with juice
- 15 ounces black beans one can, drained and rinsed
- 4 cups homemade vegetable broth
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ½ cup dried apricots diced
- 8 ounces fresh baby spinach
- 13.5 ounces unsweetened coconut milk regular or lite
- ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon pepper or to taste
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Sauté the onions until they are almost transparent.
- Add the garlic and cook for another minute or so (don’t let it brown).
- Dump the onion mixture into the slow cooker pot.
- Add everything except the apricots, spinach and coconut milk. Stir.
- Cook on high for 3 hours (or on low for 5 hours).
- Add the apricots. Continue cooking on high for another 45 minutes or so.
- Stir in the spinach and coconut milk and cook for another half hour.
- Serve over rice, if desired.
Nutrition
Kathy acquired the blog, Recipe Idea Shop in 2024. She was raised on a farm in Arkansas where having a big garden and good food to eat was the norm. She shares recipes for homemade comfort food and new trending dishes.
Kathy began her blogging journey in 2011 when she founded PetticoatJunktion.com, a home décor blog focused on repurposing and upcycling furniture, and thrift store finds.