This dish was beautiful with all the fun colors and I LOVED it! I thought it had a great rich flavor and it is so good for you too! I'm on the lookout for healthy recipes now to get rid of the last of my baby weight :-)!
Ingredients:
1 T vegetable oil
2 cups sliced onions
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb. sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/4" half-slices
1 large tomato, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup raisins (I skipped these)
1/2 t ground cinnamon
1/2 t crushed red pepper
1 can (14 oz.) chicken broth
1 can (about 15 oz.) chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained
4 cups coarsely chopped spinach (I put in at least 6)
Directions:
HEAT oil in skillet. Add onion and garlic. Cook until onion is tender.
ADD potatoes and tomatoes. Cook 5 min. Add raisins, cinnamon, red pepper, broth and water. Heat to a boil. Cover and cook over low heat 15 min.
ADD chickpeas and spinach. Heat through. Serve over cooked rice or couscous, if desired.
West African Veggie Stew
Matoke/Mangu
A Fiesta grocery store just opened up near us so today the girls and I went to check it out. We saw quite a few of them when we lived downtown, but never ventured inside and I've always been curious just how good their "international" selections actually were. I was so excited today because they really do have TONS to offer! I bought some real plaintains and attempted to re-create one of the staples I enjoyed during my semester abroad in Uganda...matoke! I LOVED it and since my roommate didn't I would end up eating hers too... so no one would be offended of course :-)(that must be why I gained weight in Africa instead of losing it)! In comparing food from the DR and Uganda, Mike and I had figured that what they call mangu in the DR is probably the same thing as matoke, and we were right! Today I peeled and chopped up some plaintains and put some of the extra African Beef Curry on top from last night and it definitely was close to what I remember. I don't think I let the plaintains boil quite long enough, but I am excited to keep experimenting with them - yum!
