Mouton Sauce Tomate
A flavorful and hearty Chadian stew featuring tender pieces of mutton simmered in a rich tomato-based sauce with aromatic spices. This dish is often served with rice, couscous, or fufu, making it a satisfying meal.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 kg Mutton(cut into 2-inch pieces)
- 4 tbsp Vegetable oil
- 2 large Onions(finely chopped)
- 6 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 4 tbsp Tomato paste
- 400 g Fresh tomatoes(chopped)
- 1 large Red bell pepper(chopped)
- 1 large Green bell pepper(chopped)
- 6 cups Water or broth
- 1 optional Bouillon cube
- 1.5 tsp Salt(or to taste)
- 1 tsp Black pepper(freshly ground)
- 0.5 tsp Cayenne pepper(or to taste)
- 2 Bay leaves
- 1 tsp Thyme(dried)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Pat the mutton pieces dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper.
💡 Tip: Drying the meat helps it to brown better. - 2
Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the mutton pieces on all sides until golden brown. Do this in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pot. Remove the browned mutton and set aside.
- 3
Add the chopped onions to the pot and sauté until softened and translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- 4
Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly, until it darkens slightly. This helps to develop its flavor.
- 5
Add the chopped fresh tomatoes, red and green bell peppers, bay leaves, and dried thyme. Stir well to combine.
- 6
Return the browned mutton to the pot. Pour in the water or broth and add the bouillon cube, if using. Bring the mixture to a boil.
💡 Tip: Ensure the liquid covers the meat. Add more if needed. - 7
Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for at least 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until the mutton is very tender.
💡 Tip: Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. - 8
Stir in the cayenne pepper and adjust salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for another 5-10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- 9
Remove the bay leaves before serving. Serve hot with your favorite accompaniment like rice, couscous, or fufu.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For a richer flavor, you can marinate the mutton in spices and a little yogurt overnight.
- ✓If you don't have mutton, lamb or beef can be used as substitutes.
- ✓Adjust the spice level by adding more or less cayenne pepper.
🔄 Variations
- Add other root vegetables like sweet potatoes or carrots during the last hour of simmering.
- For a thicker sauce, you can mash some of the cooked tomatoes against the side of the pot or create a slurry with a tablespoon of flour and a little water, then stir it into the sauce.