I like the idea of cooking everything in one pot, so stews appeal to me. It doesn’t mean it’s less work, but there is at least one or two fewer pots to wash up afterwards.

You will need:

• 700g (1-1/2 lbs) lean beef
• 2 medium onions
• 1 head of garlic
• 4 medium carrots
• 2 large potatoes
• 1 medium zucchini
• 1 large red bell (sweet) pepper
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1/2 tbsp ground pepper
• 1/2 tbsp ground cumin
• 1 tbsp paprika (sweet, not hot)
• 2 bay (laurel) leaves
• 1/4 cup soya sauce
• 3-4 cups water
• 3 tbsp flour
• 1-2 tbsp oil

Directions:

1. Add oil to pot.
2. Cut the beef into bite size pieces and throw into pot.
3. Peel the onions (remove the dry brown skin). Cut each onion in half, cut each half into quarters and throw into pot.
4. Peel all the cloves in a head of garlic (don’t smash the cloves to do this, you want the cloves intact.) Cut off the bit at the end, and any brown spots (should there be any). Toss into the pot.
5. Put the pot on the stove over a high heat and brown the meat in the oil. Only takes a few minutes. Stir frequently, so it is not a good idea to leave the pot unattended.
6. Add the salt, pepper, paprika and cumin. Add 1 cup of water. stir. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until meat is cooked – about 10-15 minutes.
7. Peel the carrots and cut into bite size pieces.
8. Peel the potatoes and cut into bite size pieces.
9. When the meat is cooked, at the carrots and potatoes. Add another cup of water. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover  and simmer until potatoes are done – typically another 15-20 minutes.
10. Peel the zucchini and cut into bite size pieces.
11. Cut the red pepper into bite size pieces.
12. Prepare a mixture soya sauce, 2 cups of water and the flour. Whisk it well, so there are no lumpy bits of flour. This will be used to darken, thicken and flavour the stew. Soya sauces vary in their saltiness, so you might want to use less (the brand I used was Heinz Soya Sauce – which I do not find very salty).
13. Once the potatoes are done, raise the heat to high, add the zucchini and red pepper. Give it a quick stir, then add the soya sauce, water, flour mixture and stir. Continue stirring until it comes to a boil. Reduce heat and stir for 1 minute.
14. Remove from heat and let stand a few minutes.
15. Serve.

Sop up the left over gravy with some bread.

Should serve 6 to 8, though depending on serving size it could serve more or less.