Botswana Goat Stew with Millet (Nama ya Pudi le Ting)
A flavorful and tender goat stew, slow-cooked to perfection and typically served with soft, fluffy millet. This dish highlights the use of goat meat, a staple in Botswana, and the traditional grain, ting.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 kg Goat meat(cubed, bone-in preferred for flavor)
- 2 large Onions(chopped)
- 400 g Tomatoes(canned diced, or fresh chopped)
- 5 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 1 inch piece Ginger(grated)
- 3 tbsp Vegetable oil
- 1 liter Beef or goat broth
- 500 ml Water(or as needed)
- 2 tbsp Curry powder
- 1 tsp Cumin powder
- 1 tsp Coriander powder
- 1 tsp Salt(or to taste)
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper(freshly ground)
- 2 pieces Bay leaves
- 2 cups Millet (Ting)(for serving)
- 4 cups Water(for cooking millet)
- 0.5 tsp Salt(for cooking millet)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Heat vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the goat meat cubes on all sides until well-colored. Remove meat and set aside.
- 2
Add chopped onions to the pot and sauté until softened and lightly browned, about 8-10 minutes.
- 3
Stir in minced garlic and grated ginger, and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- 4
Add curry powder, cumin, and coriander. Stir and cook for another minute to toast the spices.
- 5
Return the goat meat to the pot. Add diced tomatoes, beef or goat broth, water, salt, pepper, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil.
💡 Tip: Ensure the meat is mostly submerged in liquid. Add more water or broth if needed. - 6
Reduce heat to low, cover the pot tightly, and simmer for at least 2 hours, or until the goat meat is very tender. Stir occasionally and add more liquid if the stew becomes too dry.
💡 Tip: Slow cooking is key to tenderizing goat meat. - 7
While the stew is simmering, prepare the millet. Rinse the millet thoroughly. In a saucepan, combine millet, 4 cups of water, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until water is absorbed and millet is tender.
- 8
Once the goat meat is tender, remove the bay leaves. Taste the stew and adjust seasoning as needed. The stew should be rich and flavorful.
💡 Tip: If the stew is too thin, you can simmer it uncovered for the last 15-20 minutes to reduce the liquid. - 9
Serve the hot goat stew over a bed of fluffy millet.
💡 Tip: Garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley if desired.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Using bone-in goat meat adds more depth of flavor to the stew.
- ✓Don't rush the simmering process; slow cooking is essential for tender goat.
- ✓Adjust the spice levels according to your preference.
🔄 Variations
- Add chunks of pumpkin or butternut squash during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
- For a creamier texture, stir in a tablespoon of peanut butter towards the end of cooking.
- Serve with a side of fresh salad or pickled vegetables.