Wk 2 - DP - African Stew

This was the main recipe of the week to cook due to all of the different ingredients.

Yield: 16 servings

Ingredients

4 cups water
3 each chicken bouillon cubes
1/3 cup curry paste (or can be dry curry)
2 Tablespoons ground coriander, toasted
2 Tablespoons granulated garlic
4 cups coconut milk
¼ cup sugar
3 Tablespoons soy sauce
2 pounds beef/pork/chicken, large diced
2 cups mixed red and green peppers, diced
2 cups onions, diced
½ cup whole kernel corn, frozen
1 bay leaf
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 Tablespoons cornstarch (make slurry)

Method:

1. In kettle, heat water, chicken bouillon cubes, curry paste, ground coriander, and granulated garlic. Let boil and add in sugar and coconut milk.

2. Add in the soy sauce and the diced meat. Let simmer for 20 minutes.

3. Add vegetables, spices, and cook until tender.

4. Bring to a boil and add cornstarch slurry slowly to the mixture and whisk until thickened.

NOTE: This is the recipe as it was sent by the chefs at Animal Kingdom Lodge. However, reader Mose writes: Just wanted to let you know that there seems to be an error in this recipe for the African Stew at Mara. The recipe calls for 3 cups of soy sauce. I thought that sounded like a little much, so I dialed it back to about half of that. Still, when I tasted the stew, it didn't taste anything like the real thing. In fact, it tasted like soy sauce. Nothing but soy sauce. Soy sauce soup. I think maybe the recipe should have been 1/3 cup of soy sauce, instead of 3 cups. The next time I make this recipe, I will try 1/3 cup and see how it turns out.

1/09 Reader Laurie writes to say that 3 Tablespoons of soy sauce is the correct amount, and that the stew is fantastic!

http://allears.net/din/recipes/rec_as.htm

Instead of Chicken Bouillon cubes I used Organic Better Than Bouillon. I had never used it but from friends who cook a lot they had said once you use this you never go back and the results turned out great so I think I'll be using this brand from now on. USDA Organic and $6.29

I used Thai Kitchen Red Curry Paste which was the only Curry Paste we could find at our local SaveMart (use to be Albertsons, Luckys). It happened to be the one ingredient I had forgotten and had to get last minute.

Again I went with Morton & Bassett for the Ground Coriander and Granulated Garlic. Interesting note the Coriander has no mention or Organic on it, yet the Granulated Garlic again has the 100% Organic labeling. The spices were $5.99 and $5.69 respectively. 

I used generic canned coconut milk from Whole Foods, and again continue to finish the granulated sugar I have in the pantry.

For Soy Sauce I liked Oshawa Organic Nama Shoyu Unpasteruized Soy Sauce. It is USDA Organic and was $8.99

I decided to make this a Chicken African Stew and used Organic Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast from Bauer Ranch in Snelling, CA. All of their unused unsold foods are donated to their local Food Band and they are 6th generation farmers, 2nd generation in California. At $9.99 lb I received two good sized chicken breasts for $9.89.

The Red and Green bell peppers were Organic from Mexico. I used the same Organic Onions from the last recipe from Phill Fosters Ranch. Instead of Frozen Corn I boiled fresh corn and shaved the kernels for use in the stew. The bay leaf was the other ingredient I forgot and it was to late for me to run out and get it. Next time. I continued to use my McCormick Cayenne Pepper and Kingsford's Corn Starch.

PURCHASE OF THE WEEK

While I was at Bed Bath & Beyond I saw an 8 Cup Rice Cooker & Steamer on sale. Retail Price is $145. Amazon Price is $73.92. Bed Bath & Beyond Normal Price is $79.99. Clearance Price $25.00!!!