Thai-Spiced Sweet Potato Stew

With Thai ingredients available at most natural foods stores and well-stocked supermarkets, it has become easy to enjoy the delightful flavors of this cuisine at home. Use your discretion with the hot seasoning you choose; a little will give a hint of heat, but if you want a spicier stew, you can step it up from there. Adapted from Vegan Soups and Hearty Stews for all Seasons by Nava Atlas. Photos by Hannah Kaminsky.

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Author: Nava

Recipe type: Vegetable stew

Cuisine: Thai-inspired

Prep time: 20 mins

Cook time: 30 mins

Total time: 50 mins

Serves: 6

For this colorful Thai-inspired sweet potato stew, use your discretion with the hot seasoning you choose; a little will give a hint of heat, but if you want a spicier stew, you can step it up from there.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, quartered and thinly sliced
4 to 6 cloves garlic, minced
3 medium-large sweet potatoes (about 1½ pounds), peeled and diced
3 cups water
1 medium red bell pepper, cut into narrow strips
1½ cups frozen organic whole green beans, thawed
2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
2 stalks lemongrass, optional
One 14 - to 15-ounce can light coconut milk
¼ cup natural peanut butter
Salt to taste
1 teaspoon red or green Thai curry paste, dissolved in a little water; or sriracha or other hot sauce of your choice, to taste
Cilantro leaves for topping

Instructions

Heat the oil in a soup pot. Add the onion and sauté over medium-low heat until translucent. Add the garlic and continue to sauté until both are golden.
Add the sweet potatoes and water. Bring to a rapid simmer, then lower the heat. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are about half done.
Stir in the bell pepper, green beans, and ginger.
If using lemongrass, cut each stalk into 3 or 4 pieces, and bruise by making long cuts here and there with a sharp knife. This will help release the lemony flavor. Stir into the soup pot. Either way, simmer the stew for 10 minutes longer.
Stir in the coconut milk, peanut butter, salt, and curry paste or hot sauce. Return to a simmer, then cook over very low heat for 5 minutes longer, or until all the vegetables are tender and the flavors well integrated.
Remove lemongrass pieces, if used. Taste to adjust seasonings, particularly the hot seasoning if you’d like a spicier stew, as well as the salt and ginger.
Serve at once, topping each serving with a few cilantro leaves.

Nutrition information
Per serving: Calories: 290; Total fat: 10g; Protein: 14g; Fiber: 6g; Carbs: 42g; Sodium: 235 mg