ZIMBABWE: Instant-Pot Beef Stew on Fries (Chipsi Na Nayma) and Zim Slaw

While this dish likely originated in Tanzania or Kenya, it is a ubiquitous street food in Zimbabwe. My family loves poutine and disco fries, so I went for it assuming they would be fans. They were. It was gobbled up super quickly. And while I was a bit hesitant seeing apples, tomatoes, cucumbers, and ketchup go into slaw, the end result was fabulous — brighter and more multidimensional than traditional slaw. All aspects of this meal will be on repeat for sure!

Instant-Pot Beef Stew on Fries (Chipsi Na Nayma)

12-16 oz frozen French fires, ideally steak cut

1 lb beef stew meat

1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil

1 large onion

1 clove garlic

2 medium tomatoes, such as Roma

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 teaspoon smoked paprika or mild curry powder

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon black pepper

½ cube beef bouillon cube, optional

1 cup chicken or beef broth

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1. Cook the fries according to package directions.

2. Cut the meat into small dice, ~½ inch cubed. Turn your Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Add the oil and let it get hot. Season your beef chunks with salt and pepper, and brown them in the pot for 3-5 minutes until golden on all sides. Remove the beef and set aside on a plate.

3. Dice your onion and mince the garlic. Add the onion to the Instant Pot. If the bottom starts to stick, you can add in a tablespoon or two of the stock from the one cup. Cook until translucent (about 3 minutes). Add the garlic and curry powder, stirring continuously for about 1 minute until fragrant.

4. Add the chopped tomatoes and tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes.

5. Pour in the broth and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pot.Return the beef and any resting juices back to the pot. Secure the lid and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. Release the steam and open the pot when complete.

6. Turn the pot back to the Sauté mode. Mix the cornstarch with one tablespoon water to make a slurry. Add to the pot and let boil until the sauce thickens slightly.

7. You can either mound some fries on a plate and top with the stew, or you can add the fries to the Instant Pot, toss gently to coat, and serve.

Zim Slaw

¼ cup mayonnaise

1 teaspoon ketchup

1 teaspoon white vinegar

2 cups mixed shredded cabbage (green and/or purple) and/or shredded carrots

2 Persian cucumbers

1 medium tomato, such as a Roma

1 small apple

1. In a large bowl, mix the mayo, ketchup, and vinegar. Add the cabbage and toss until coated.

2. Chop the cucumbers. Core and seed the tomato, and chop. Core the apple and chop.

3. Toss the cucumbers, tomato, and apple in the the slaw and mix until well combined.

4. Use immediately or chill up to 24 hours.

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FUN FACTS:

• Zimbabwe has one of the highest numbers of official languages of any country in the world — 16 — ranking just behind Bolivia.

• Victoria Falls is locally known as Mosi-oa-Tunya, "the smoke that thunders" and the largest curtain of continuous falling water in the world, as it has the largest area of width times height.

• The world’s largest man-made lake in the world is in Zimbabwe. Lake Kariba, along the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, was created between 1958 and 1963.