Ital Stew

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 onion, chopped

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

• 3 green onions, bottoms removed

• 2 bay leaves

• 2 cups coconut milk

• 2 cups water

• 2 cups pumpkin or squash, cut into bite-sized chunks

• 2 cups taro, cut into bite-sized chunks (about 1 pound)

• 1 cup okra, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 10 okras)

• 1/2 yellow plantain, cut into bite-sized pieces

• 3 carrots, cut into bite-sized chunks

• 2 cups collard greens, sliced (about 4 leaves)

• Juice of 1/2 lime (1 tablespoon)

• Sea salt to taste, about 1 teaspoon

• Pepper to taste, about 1 teaspoon

• 1 small handful cilantro, choppedLudo

• Lefebvre’s Ultimate Pot-au-Feu

  1. In a stockpot, warm the olive oil over medium heat, then add the onion. Sauté until translucent and softened, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic, allspice and thyme and sauté until aromatic, about 1 minute.

  2. Add the green onions, bay leaves, coconut milk and water. Bring to a simmer, then add the pumpkin and taro and cook for 5 minutes. Reduce heat if it turns into a boil. Add the potatoes and cook for another 3 minutes. Stir in the okra, plantain and carrots and cook for another 5 minutes. Finally, remove the green onions (and any bay leaves and thyme sprigs), then add the collard greens; simmer until darkened and bright green, about 4 more minutes. At this point, all of the vegetables should be easily pierced with a fork.

  3. Remove from heat and add the lime juice. Add salt and pepper to taste; stir in the cilantro and serve.

  Notes

   

  To give the stew more spice, add a Scotch bonnet or habanero pepper when adding the coconut milk and water and remove before serving. For more spice, burst the pepper in the stew before removing it.