Essential Ingredients for a Tasty Stew

There’s nothing better than indulging in a warm, tasty, and home-cooked stew after a long day. It’s at those moments we get to bond and spend much needed quality time with family. Stew is a popular dish in South Africa and often a staple in winter.

There are many ways to make this filling meal - stew ingredients range from hearty beef bones to more expensive cuts of meat such as oxtail. But did you know, you can create a nourishing stew with more budget-friendly ingredients that you probably already have in your cupboard? Today we unpack that cupboard and identify the most important ingredients needed to cook a hearty stew. We also suggest some stew recipes you can try out at home. Let’s dig in!

Stew Ingredients List

So, you are ready to head for the grocery store to get your month’s supply of stew ingredients? Look no further, here are the basic ingredients you’re going to need to create delicious stews this month:

• Knorrox Stock Cubes​
• Onions
• Potatoes
• Carrots
• Meat
• Knorrox All–in-One spice

Knorrox Stock Cubes

Everyone loves rich meaty flavour and by using Knorrox Beef Stock Cubes you can tick that box with ease. These stock cubes are simple to use and strong in flavour, which helps when you’re cooking for friends and family. Knorrox is a trusted name when it comes to saucy, savoury stews. Have a look at this recipe: Beef and Butter Bean Stew in which we use two Knorrox Beef Stock Cubes to give the tomatoes, beans and carrots a delicious nyama taste.

Sometimes, adding just a few spices isn’t enough for the rich flavour and thick texture we’re after. If you really want to taste the difference Knorrox Beef Stock Cubes should be part of your stew ingredients list.

 

Onions

Most mouth-watering meals wouldn’t be as tasty if you didn’t add onions. Braising onions before adding fragrant spices creates a foundation of flavour that few other vegetables can bring to the pot. Onions are one of the most widely used ingredients in all cooking and they certainly play a big part in creating a hearty stew.

Onions may cause teary eyes but they’re good for our health. They’re low in calories but high in minerals and vitamins. Which means that when you cook with onions your family is getting food that doesn’t just taste yummy, but also boosts their health and makes them happy. Try this nourishing recipe: Knorrox Chicken Neck Stew that uses stew ingredients like green beans, carrots and - you guessed it - onions, to bulk up the broth with nourishment.

Potatoes

The secret to filling hungry tummies without spending too much money on meat is potatoes. Potatoes are tasty, satisfying, and easy on the pocket. Potatoes are rich in nutrients and are a great source of Vitamin B6 which helps to maintain a healthy body.

Top Tip: Don’t peel your potatoes and throw away the peels. Most of the nourishment in potatoes can be found in the skin. Rather give your potatoes a good scrub before you add them to the pot, peel and all.

 

Carrots

Carrots are a great source of beta carotene, fibre, vitamins A, E and K, potassium and antioxidants not too pricey and very versatile. Their crunchy, earthy taste goes a long way to adding delicious flavour to any stew.

Add carrots to almost any stew recipe. From hearty beef stew to bean stew or trotters, carrots add sweet juiciness and a pop of colour to the sauce.

For a recipe that can feed six people and uses this sweet vegetable try: Spicy Chicken Stew with Dumplings Oh and did we mention the dombolo that goes with it? Delicious!

 

 

Meat

Although there are many terrific stew recipes that are completely meat free, meat is a great addition for a Sunday family lunch or a birthday gathering. However, a common mistake when cooking meat is rushing the cooking process.

Top Tip: Don’t be hasty. Give the meat enough time to break down and become tender while sucking up all the beef or chicken stock.

To put a smile on the faces around your table try this stew recipe for a change: Chicken and Lentil Stew Chicken thighs and lentils add an enormous helping of protein to this stew and makes your little ones healthy and strong. Serve it with pap for the perfect meal.

Knorrox Seasoning and Soups

If you really want to take the savoury taste of your stew up a notch, try Knorrox All-in-One spice. It is made from a variety of herbs and spices including turmeric and paprika extract which lends a meaty taste to the stew.

Top Tip: Fry your onions in a tablespoon of Knorrox All-in-One spice to unlock the flavours of the herbs and spices before you add the meat to the pot.

The great thing about Knorrox All-in-One spice is that it can be used to season meat for any dish: sishebo, skopo, chicken feet and more. It’s a versatile kitchen helper and a must-have for adding flavour to your favourite traditional food.

When it comes to thickening your stews – and getting that stick-to-your-ribs kind of dish – the secret is adding in a delicious, nourishing soup. Not only does it bulk up a stew, it lends an extra layer of meaty flavour in a smart, budget-friendly way. Depending on the pack size you choose, our Knorrox soups packs can be used in up to 30 stews, making it a really affordable choice for family meals. Knorrox soups come in great range of flavour choices too - from mutton, chilli beef and spicy chicken to oxtail and minestrone.

There you go - all set to do the monthly shopping and buy everything you need to make many nourishing stews this month.

References:​

• Top 10 Foods Highest in Vitamin B6 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​