Prepare Tomato Stew Like a Pro [Creative Sunday]

I learnt from an Igbo girl, that Sundays are for specific meals in Igbo homes. According to her, these meals are supposed to be quality meals, the ones served during festivities. Since then, I decided to always prepare yummy dishes on Sundays. Today, I’ll be sharing the process of preparing tomato stew.

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Before I begin, I'll like to dedicate this post to all our ~~single pringles~~ bachelors in the Hive Learners community.😂 Feel free to tag a bachelor and give him a shout out in the comments section.

Let’s get started!

INGREDIENTS

Fresh tomatoes
Tomato paste
Ginger/Garlic
Peppers: Scotch bonnet pepper, bell pepper, long chili pepper
Spices: Curry, thyme, spicity, Kitchen glory (Chickdn flavor)
Knorr cubes
Onions
Salt
Power Oil
Iced fish
Cowskin
Curry leaves
Boiled eggs

THE RECIPE

STEP 1:
I started my cooking by organizing my ingredients. Organization is quite important while cooking as this makes the cooking process a lot easier and equally keeps the kitchen less messy. I kickstarted this process by bringing out every single ingredient and cooking utensil I needed for this meal.

I proceeded to washing the pepper mix ingredients. This comprises of Red bell pepper which is commonly called Tatashe by the Yorubas, scotch bonnet pepper (Ata rodo), chili pepper (Shombo), fresh tomatoes and onions. I washed my garlic and ginger as I was going to blend them together with my pepper mix. I added these combo to my blender and blended them to a fine, smooth paste.
I proceeded to slicing some more onions.

N/B: It's important to note that onions is one ingredient you must be extremely generous with if you're looking forward to achieving a very yummy stew. This is because onions do not only elevate the aroma of your stew, it also absorbs ingredients perfectly, such that if you chew a slice of onions while eating, it tastes divine!

STEP 2:
Having gotten my pepper mix, which is the base for my stew, I proceeded to wash and season my proteins. For this stew, I'm using Ice fish, cowskin (kpomo) and some eggs.
I washed them thoroughly and seasoned with some roughly blended pepper, seasoning cubes, a little salt, fish spice and a little water. I mixed this properly to combine and allowed it to cook on medium heat for about 5 minutes.

N/B: If you intend to fry your fish, you shouldn't boil it till it softens because frying is also a cooking method. The fish will cook some more while in the heated oil.

After cooking my proteins, I proceeded to filter the fish from the stock and I fried it. I like my fish very crunchy, so feel free to fry yours to your taste.

^{While my fish was frying, I equally boiled my pepper mix to drain the excess water and achieve a fine paste.}

STEP 3:

^{The paste and the fish oil}

I filtered the oil I used in frying the fish and heated it up in preparation to cook my stew. I did this to enable the fish flavour stay retained in my stew.
I sauteed my onoins (fried them in oil till tender)
I added my tomato paste (I used Clappa for this. You can use any brand you wish to use) and fried till I was certain it won't be slappy.
I added my pepper mix and allowed to fry for 5 minutes (time differs with quantity)

I added my spices of Curry powder, Thyme, Ginger powder and Spicity. I stirred to combine and allowed it to cook for 3 minutes.
I added my fish stock and my precooked cowskin. I stirred to combine and allowed it to cook for 3 minutes.
I added my fried fish and my curry leaf. I also added my peeled boiled eggs.
There! my yummy tomato stew is ready!

WHAT I ENJOY THE MOST ABOUT COOKING TOMATO STEW

First off, the act of cooking requires intentionality but some meals require more intentionality than others. This is what makes me love preparing stew - the detailing, the intentionality.
As a matter of fact, stew is one of the foods that tricky to prepare. That's because with the addition of all the spices required, you get such an amazing aroma but it doesn't always taste as good as it smells unless everything is done perfectly.
So I love preparing this meal because it teaches me to be careful, to follow due process and to be very intentional.

I also really love preparing this meal because it is very flavourful, and it can be eaten with so many combinations; boiled yam, fried yam, boiled plantain, boiled white spaghetti, boiled rice etc.