Today I'm sharing two recipes that are perfect for the winter time. The first one is a beef and potato stew, and the second one is a vegetarian bean stew. I've Included a meat and a vegetarian recipe :) Enjoy!

Beef & Potato Stew:

Ingredients:

-1.5 lbs. of Beef Stew Meat
-cubed 3lbs of Potatoes
-1 head of fresh garlic (peeled and cubed) -crushed or minced 1 medium onion minced
-2.5 table spoons of ghee or butter
-2-3 teaspoons of tomato paste
-1 cup of coriander leaves finely chopped (preferably green)
-1.5 teaspoon of salt - A dash of allspice
-2 cups of Warm Water
-A side of rice

Instructions:

1). In a deep cooking pot, sauté/fry the meat in butter on medium heat with a bit of salt for about 8-10 minutes or until medium-well cooked.

2). Add the garlic, onions, coriander leaves, allspices and the remaining salt to the beef and sauté well
together for another 3-4 minutes.

3). Add about 6-7 cups of warm water (watch out for the steam), bring to a boil, cover and let simmer/cook on low heat for 2 to 2.5 hours.

4). Meanwhile, bake the cubed potatoes in the oven for about 30 minutes at 370 degrees, then add them to the simmering meat half-way through its cooking time. During the last 30 minutes of cooking, add the tomato paste, stir well, then let simmer for the remaining time.

5). Serve hot with a side of rice.



Ingredients:

-2 cups of pinto beans
-1 medium onion -finely chopped 1 head of garlic
-finely minced 1 medium head of potato (cut into tiny cubes)
-½ cup of olive oil
-1-2 teaspoons of tomato paste
-½ teaspoon of salt (or to taste)
-8 cups of water

Instructions:

1). Soak the beans overnight in fresh water so that they soften and cook faster.

2). In a deep cooking pot, sauté the garlic, onions, potatoes and beans in the olive oil for 5-10 minutes.

3). Add 8 cups of warm water to the pot along with the salt and stir well.

4). Cover the pot and let gently boil/simmer on low heat for 1 hour.

5). Add 2 teaspoons of tomato paste to the pot, stir well, boil for another 15 minutes and serve hot with a side of pita bread.