Sweet Potato and Beef Stew

[shanmonster]

I made this on Friday, and it is very good.

I based the recipe off one found in the January/February issue of Muscle and Fitness Hers magazine.

• 2 Tbsp olive oil
  
• 1 lb beef stew meat
  
• 2 large onions, diced
  
• 4 garlic cloves, chopped
  
• 1 tsp ground cumin
  
• 1 tsp whole cumin seeds
  
• 1/2 tsp chili flakes
  
• 1 can diced tomatoes
  
• 1 can tomato sauce
  
• 2 cups beef broth
  
• 1 large sweet potato, peeled and chopped
  
• salt and pepper to taste
  

• Heat a large soup pot over medium heat and add olive oil. Brown meat on all sides. Don't overcrowd the meat, and cook in batches if necessary.
  
• Remove beef and add onions, stirring until caramelized. Add garlic, cumin, and chili flakes, and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add tomatoes and tomato sauce, then add meat.
  
• Add broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer covered for 20 minutes. If stew is too thick, add more broth.
  
• Add sweet potato and cook for another 20 minutes or until beef is tender. Season with salt and pepper if desired.

The sweet potato I used was enormous: about half the size of my head. The stew is very filling, and the chili gives it more of a bite than I expected.