Jamaican-style Spicy Beef Stew

Ingredients

In this Jamaican adaptation, we have replaced the traditional Bosnian spices with Jamaican flavors. The Čimbur s mesom typically uses paprika, black pepper, and bay leaves, while our Jamaican-style Spicy Beef Stew incorporates scotch bonnet peppers, allspice, and other Caribbean spices to give it a distinctively fiery and aromatic taste. We alse have the original recipe for Čimbur s mesom, so you can check it out.

• 2 pounds (900g) beef stew meat, cubed 2 pounds (900g) beef stew meat, cubed
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 onion, diced 1 onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 scotch bonnet peppers, seeded and minced 2 scotch bonnet peppers, seeded and minced
• 2 teaspoons ground allspice 2 teaspoons ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon ground thyme 1 teaspoon ground thyme
• 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 2 carrots, peeled and sliced 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
• 2 potatoes, peeled and diced 2 potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced 1 bell pepper, diced
• 1 cup (240ml) beef broth 1 cup (240ml) beef broth
• 1 cup (240ml) coconut milk 1 cup (240ml) coconut milk
• Salt and pepper, to taste Salt and pepper, to taste
• Fresh cilantro, for garnish Fresh cilantro, for garnish

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 450 kcal / 1884 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 25g, 12g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 15g, 4g
• Protein: 40g
• Fiber: 3g
• Salt: 1.5g

Preparation

1. 1.
   In a large pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion, minced garlic, and minced scotch bonnet peppers. Sauté until the onions are translucent and fragrant.
2. 2.
   Add the beef stew meat to the pot and brown it on all sides.
3. 3.
   Stir in the ground allspice, ground thyme, paprika, and brown sugar. Cook for another minute to toast the spices.
4. 4.
   Add the sliced carrots, diced potatoes, and diced bell pepper to the pot. Pour in the beef broth and coconut milk. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. 5.
   Bring the stew to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and simmer for 2-3 hours, or until the beef is tender and the flavors have melded together.
6. 6.
   Serve the Jamaican-style Spicy Beef Stew hot, garnished with fresh cilantro. Enjoy with rice or Jamaican-style cornbread.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Scotch bonnet peppers — Handle with caution as they are extremely spicy. Use gloves while handling and be careful not to touch your face or eyes. Adjust the amount according to your spice tolerance.
• Allspice — If you can't find ground allspice, you can substitute it with a mixture of equal parts ground cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.

Tips & Tricks

• For an extra burst of flavor, marinate the beef in the spice mixture overnight before cooking.
• Adjust the spiciness by adding more or fewer scotch bonnet peppers.
• If you prefer a thicker stew, you can mix a tablespoon of cornstarch with water and add it to the stew during the last 15 minutes of cooking.

Serving advice

Serve the Jamaican-style Spicy Beef Stew hot with a side of fluffy rice or Jamaican-style cornbread. Garnish with fresh cilantro for a pop of color and freshness.

Presentation advice

Serve the stew in deep bowls, allowing the vibrant colors of the vegetables and the rich brown hue of the stew to shine through. Sprinkle some fresh cilantro on top for an added touch of green.