Recipe Quick Cook - Tanzanian Makande Sweetcorn & Kidney Bean Stew

This is one I can do myself long as I can stand at the hob long enough to put a pan on, open the tins and stick the ingredients in the pan and set the egg timer.  For people who can stand for long enough to saute the onions, excellent, but it's just as tasty without doing that!  It's probably possible to do in a microwave also, but you'll have to work out timings for yourself for that.

According to the Recipe Book this is from - The African & Middle Eastern Cookbook (Josephine Bacon and Jenni Fleetwood) which is where I got the picture (the wonders of scanners!) this is a recipe from the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania.  Though I know Kenyans have something similar...

What is it?  A stew made from onions, sweetcorn, kidney beans, coconut cream and vegetable stock.  It's like a soup with bits in.


Time Required? About 20-30mins (most of which you're letting it cook by itself)

Cooking Skill Required?  Must be able to open tins, maybe chop an onion and the ability to stir occasionally. Very Easy.

Eating Ability Required?  If you eat it lumpy, you need to be able to chew the corn & beans.  If you liquidise it (might need to add a bit more liquid) you just need to be able to swallow. It does go a rather odd pink colour when liquidised, but as long as you know what's in it and you eat with your tastebuds not your eyes, it's good!  Easy or Very Easy.

TANZANIAN MAKANDE - SWEETCORN, KIDNEY BEAN AND ONION STEW (with Coconut Cream)

Portions - Serves 4 (as ever, I get 5-6 out of it)

INGREDIENTS

Tin of Kidney Beans - rinse them under cold water before putting them in the pan.
Tin of Sweetcorn (or a couple of handfuls of frozen sweetcorn) - rinse tinned sweetcorn under cold water before putting them in the pan.
Tin of Coconut Cream or Coconut Milk (unsweetened - find in the ethnic food aisle. I like Blue Dragon or Consumer's Pride)  If you use Coconut Milk you'll need a bit less stock, unless you want it quite wet, then keep the quantities. Cream is thicker than Milk.  If you use a coconut block, then the carer needs to chop it up a bit and dissolve it in the hot vegetable stock before adding it to the pan.
One Onion Chopped (or a handful of ready chopped frozen onion)
300ml or half a pint of Hot Vegetable Stock (any stock cube or powder that you normally use).
Mixed Herbs  a pinch

Optional - 2 cloves of garlic (chopped - fresh or dried or frozen)
Optional - 1 tbsp (tablespoon) of vegetable oil (to fry the onion).


You can probably make it as a single portion if you don't mind having the remainder of a tin of kidney beans in the fridge - make sure they are rinsed and put in an airtight container and eaten within 2-3 days if you have them leftover.

PREPARATION

1. Find a pan that will fit all the ingredients in, with room for boiling/cooking to avoid spillages!

2.  If you have the time & energy, put the oil in the pan and add the onion and garlic and fry them on a very low heat until they go a bit see through and soft. You are NOT frying them until they are crispy!

3.  If you don't want to fry the onions, then, just follow from here onwards:

4. Put all the rest of the ingredients into the pan, stir to make sure nothing's stuck on the bottom and the coconut cream/milk/block has dissolved. On a medium heat bring to the boil, this is when the surface of the liquid starts to move around and bubble a bit. Reduce the heat to a simmer. Put the lid on the pan. Set the egg timer for 15-20mins.  And walk away....


5. Keep an occasional eye on it, stir a couple of times, but after about 15-20mins it should be cooked and you can eat it.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

• As above, eat it like a stew, or liquidise it if you don't want to chew.
• Eat it by itself, or with some freshly buttered toast fingers, or naan bread fingers or torn up chapatti (I freeze my naan and chappatti ready cut up so that only one portion needs to be taken out and heated up - saves waste).
• If you want to bulk it up a bit you could add potato chunks and the Tanzanians add little chunks of meat sometimes - generally beef or chicken.

Can it be reheated? Yes, it's very nice the next day, the flavours have developed.  The coconut milk/ cream acts like animal fat, it forms a crust once cool, so make sure that gets mixed in before you take a portion. You can microwave it.

Can it be frozen?  Don't see why not, although I haven't.