Zom
HB-2558 · Hand-built original · Cameroonian
Meet Zom, a deeply savoury herb stew that sits at the heart of Cameroonian home cooking. Tender pieces of meat simmer slowly in palm oil with garlic, chillies and a generous handful of fresh green herbs until the whole pot smells of celebration. It is the sort of dish that appears at family gatherings and feast days, yet it is simple enough to make on an ordinary evening. Serve it steaming hot with rice or cassava and you have a proper taste of Central Africa.
CameroonianMain Dishes1 hr1–2 servings895 kcalGluten-freeDairy-freeEgg-freeDiabeticHigh Fiber
Main ingredient: beef
Pairs well with: mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, red wine sauce, yorkshire pudding, green beans
Servings:1quantities adjust to match
Ingredients
- 10½ oz beef stewing steak (or chicken pieces), cut into bite-size cubes
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 to 2 green chillies, slit or chopped, to taste
- 2 to 3 tbsp palm oil
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh coriander
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp grated nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp salt, or to taste
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 cup water, plus more as needed
- Cooked rice or boiled cassava, to serve
Method
- Season the beef with the salt, black pepper, nutmeg, and cumin.
- Heat the palm oil in a heavy pot over medium-high heat. Brown the beef in a single layer for 5 to 6 minutes, turning once, then lift it out.
- Reduce the heat to medium, add the onion, and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic and chillies and cook for 1 minute.
- Return the beef and its juices, add the sugar and the water, and bring to a simmer, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
- Cover and simmer gently for 35 to 40 minutes (15 to 20 minutes for chicken), until the meat is tender and the sauce is rich and lightly thickened. Add a little more water if it dries out.
- Stir in the parsley and coriander, taste and adjust the salt, and rest for 5 minutes.
- Serve hot over rice or with boiled cassava.
Total: 1 h
Nutrition (per serving, where published)
895 kcalCalories
137.2 gProtein
21.5 gCarbs
26.3 gFat
8.2 gSaturates
5 gFibre
5.1 gSugars
3607 mgSodium
356 mgCholesterol
2420 mgPotassium
188 mgCalcium
16.5 mgIron
1 servingServing
Estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data