Ugandan Nthoma Stew
A hearty and flavorful stew made with goat meat, local greens, and aromatic spices, often prepared for special occasions. Nthoma refers to goat meat in Luganda.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 kg Goat meat(bone-in, cut into 2-inch pieces)
- 2 large Onions(chopped)
- 4 medium Tomatoes(chopped)
- 4 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 1 inch piece Ginger(grated)
- 1 medium Green bell pepper(chopped)
- 500 g Collard greens (or other local greens like sukuma wiki)(chopped)
- 3 tbsp Vegetable oil
- 4 cups Water or broth
- to taste Salt
- 1 tsp Black pepper(freshly ground)
- 1 tsp Cumin powder
- 1 tsp Coriander powder
- 0.5 tsp Turmeric powder
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Brown the goat meat on all sides. Remove meat and set aside.
⏱️ 10-15 minutes - 2
Add chopped onions to the pot and sauté until softened and translucent.
⏱️ 5-7 minutes - 3
Stir in minced garlic and grated ginger, and cook for another minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 1 minute - 4
Add chopped tomatoes and green bell pepper to the pot. Cook until tomatoes break down and form a sauce.
⏱️ 10-12 minutes - 5
Return the browned goat meat to the pot. Add water or broth, salt, black pepper, cumin, coriander, and turmeric. Bring to a boil.
💡 Tip: Ensure meat is mostly submerged in liquid. - 6
Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for at least 1 hour, or until the goat meat is tender.
⏱️ 1 hour💡 Tip: Check liquid levels periodically and add more water/broth if needed. - 7
Stir in the chopped collard greens (or other greens). Cook for another 10-15 minutes until the greens are wilted and tender.
⏱️ 10-15 minutes - 8
Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary. Serve hot.
💡 Tip: Allow stew to rest for a few minutes before serving for flavors to meld.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For a richer flavor, you can marinate the goat meat overnight with some of the spices.
- ✓If goat meat is not available, lamb or beef can be used as substitutes.
- ✓Adjust the amount of chili if you prefer a spicier stew.
🔄 Variations
- Add a diced potato or sweet potato along with the greens for a more substantial stew.
- A pinch of chili flakes can be added for extra heat.
- Serve with a side of steamed rice, ugali, or matooke.