🐄🌶️🥥🍲 Caribbean Spicy Coconut Beef Stew
A comforting, hearty beef stew made with tender beef chunks, spicy seasoning, and a rich coconut milk base. Perfect for a cozy dinner or meal prep for the week!
📝 Ingredients (Serves 4-6)
🍲 For the Stew:
2 lbs (900g) beef stew meat, cut into chunks 🐄
1 tbsp olive oil 🛢️
1 large onion, diced 🧅
4 garlic cloves, minced 🧄
1 bell pepper, chopped 🫑
2 medium tomatoes, chopped 🍅
1 carrot, sliced 🥕
2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed 🥔
1 can (14 oz) coconut milk 🥥
2 cups beef broth 🍲
2 tbsp soy sauce 🌿
1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves 🌿
2 bay leaves 🍃
2 tbsp brown sugar 🍯
🌶️ For the Spice Blend:
1 tbsp allspice (pimento) 🌶️
1 tsp cinnamon 🍂
1 tsp ground ginger 🌱
1 tsp paprika 🌶️
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional, for extra heat) 🌶️
1/2 tsp ground cumin 🌿
Salt and black pepper to taste 🧂
🍋 For Serving:
Fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped 🌿
Lime wedges for garnish 🍋
White rice or rice and peas for serving 🍚
👨🍳 Instructions
1. Brown the Beef:
Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
Season the beef stew meat with salt, black pepper, and half of the spice blend (allspice, cinnamon, ginger, paprika, cayenne, cumin).
Add the beef chunks to the pot in batches, searing them on all sides until browned (about 5–7 minutes per batch). Remove the beef and set it aside.
2. Sauté the Vegetables:
In the same pot, add the diced onion, minced garlic, and chopped bell pepper. Cook for about 4–5 minutes, until the vegetables are softened.
Add the chopped tomatoes, carrot, and cubed potatoes. Stir everything together.
3. Build the Stew Base:
Return the browned beef back to the pot.
Add the coconut milk, beef broth, soy sauce, fresh thyme, bay leaves, and brown sugar. Stir to combine.
Sprinkle in the remaining spice blend, adjusting the cayenne pepper to your desired spice level.
4. Simmer the Stew:
Bring the stew to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and let it simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the beef is tender and the vegetables are cooked through.
Stir occasionally to ensure nothing sticks to the bottom of the pot. If the stew gets too thick, you can add more beef broth or water.
5. Finish the Stew:
Once the beef is tender and the flavors have melded, taste the stew and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or lime juice as needed.
Remove the bay leaves and discard.
6. Serve:
Ladle the stew into bowls.
Garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley and a squeeze of lime juice for a burst of freshness.
Serve with white rice or rice and peas for the full Caribbean experience 🍚.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
Pair the stew with a fresh salad or fried plantains for a complete meal 🥗🍌.
If you like extra spice, serve with a side of hot pepper sauce or scotch bonnet pepper for a more authentic kick 🌶️🔥.
🔥 Pro Tips
Beef Options: For a richer, more tender stew, you can use oxtail or short ribs instead of beef stew meat. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time for the meat's tenderness.
Veggie Add-ins: Feel free to add other root vegetables like sweet potatoes or yams for a more hearty stew.
Extra Heat: If you love spicy food, add some scotch bonnet peppers or jalapeños to the stew for a bold, fiery flavor 🔥.