Beef stew also known as beef potjie/ beef potjiekos is one of the typical Namibian dishes. It’s normally prepared in a large cast-iron three-legged pot over an open wood fire. This recipe however was made exclusively on the stovetop.
Making beef stew over the open fire usually takes 3 to 4 hours, in comparison to an electric stove but it’s well worth the effort.
The Namibian beef stew is made with big chunks of beef, that contain fat and bones, vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, butternut, sweet potatoes, corn, just depending on what you have home. Sometimes we also add intestines and tripe, since this gives the beef stew an amazing kick.
This beef stew is made with simple ingredients, leaves lots of room for small changes with still amazing results and tastes so good. It tastes great with pap, fat cakes (fried dough), pasta or over rice.
What you’ll need to make beef potjiekos recipe
- 1 kg (2.2 lbs) beef chucks/shanks with bone-in
- 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 large onions
- 2 garlic cloves
- 300 g (10.6 oz) carrots
- 1 liter (about 4 cups) water, hot
- chili flakes, salt and pepper to taste
- about 3 tablespoons to brown the meat
How to make Namibian beef stew
Pat dry the meat with paper towels and cut it into bite-sized pieces.
Next peel and cut the onions and garlic cloves into smaller pieces.
In a large pot heat the oil at medium – high and brown the meat chunks. Don’t overcrowd the pot, otherwise the meat won’t brown.
Add onions and garlic and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring continuously.
In the meanwhile peel and cut the carrots into pieces.
Add the carrots and then the tomato paste and stir well. Cook for another minute.
Add about half of water and stir to combine.
Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium – low. Cover and simmer for 60 minutes. Keep stirring and adding water in between, so that the bottom of the pot doesn’t burn.
Season with chili flakes, salt and pepper and add the remaining water.
Let simmer for another 25 minutes or until the meat is tender and the sauce is nicely thick. If you feel like the meat is not yet tender, then just add more liquid and let simmer a bit longer. Enjoy!
Namibian Beef Stew Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 kg (2.2 lbs) beef chucks or shanks with bone-in
- 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 large onions
- 2 garlic cloves
- 300 g (10.6 oz) carrots
- 1 liter (4 cups ) water hot
- chili flakes, salt and pepper to taste
- 3 tablespoons sunflower oil to brown the meat
Instructions
- Pat the meat dry with kitchen papers/ paper towels and cut it into bite-sized pieces. Next peel and cut the onions and garlic cloves into smaller pieces.
- In a large pot heat the oil at medium – high and brown the meat chunks. Don’t crowd the pot, otherwise the meat won’t brown. (SEE NOTES) Add onions and garlic and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring continuously. In the meanwhile peel and cut the carrots into pieces. Add the carrots and then the tomato paste and stir well. Cook for another minute.
- Add half of water and stir to combine. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to medium – low. Cover and simmer for 60 minutes. Keep stirring and adding water in between, so that the bottom of the pot doesn’t burn.
- Season with chili flakes, salt and pepper and add the remaining water. Let simmer for another 25 minutes or until the meat is tender and the sauce is nicely thick. (SEE NOTES)
Notes
- If you’re using more than 1 kg (2.2 lbs) of meat or a smaller pot, then you should divide the meat into half, otherwise you will crowd the pot and the meat will not brown.
- If you feel like the meat is not yet tender, then just add more liquid and let simmer a bit longer.
Did you make this Namibian style beef stew recipe? I’d love to hear from you! Simply write a review and add rating to it
This looks so yummy! A perfect dish for fall in NH! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for your lovely review Wendy and for taking the time to write it. Happy cooking!
Delicious and yummy, keep inspiring us with your recipes.. The only thing missing is oshifima (pap)
This looks absolutely delicious! This is going be a must try this fall!
Thanks Deanna, happy cooking!
That sounds delicious! And perfect for (a UK) autumn too..
I’m glad you like it Aaron, thank you!
My best friend is from Namibia. This looks so GOOD! Yum!
Hello Mallaury, thank you! Oh wow, what a Coincidence. You can show off to your friend that you know how to prepare a Namibian beef stew. 🙂
This looks and sounds delicious! I’ll have to give it a try!
Thank you so much Kristine! I’m glad you like it!
Hi Ester , I made this this week and it was really delicious
So glad you enjoyed it, Dorotea. Thank you for stopping by.;-)
The Beef Stew was a hit at the family table. Easy to cook and so yummy to eat. We will be having this one again. We did it in the slow cooker due to our busy day and it worked out well. We just left the lid off for about 45 minutes to reduce the liquid. Next time we will follow the recipe and see if there is a difference. Thanks for sharing the recipe Ester.
We’re from Namibia, made this last night in the black pot on the fire with goulash. So simple, yet the flavours were amazing! We polished the whole potjie! 🙂
So great to hear this, Leandri! Thanks so much for stopping by.:-)