Last Updated on September 1, 2021 by Chef Mireille
Smoky Pork Stew with Sweet Potatoes & Carrots is the perfect comfort food stew for the whole family. Full of smoky spices and naturally sweet vegetables, it’s a perfect marriage of flavors.
So the first thing that comes to mind is probably what country is this recipe from, since most of my posts are about the foods from around the world with cultural and historical notes of the country. However, I hope through my recipes , I have inspired you to use international ingredients and flavors to create your own special creations indicative of the cultures around the world.
If I was forced to pick a country that this stew represents, I would probably say Morocco with the use of the smoky spices and fresh herbs…but then I went and used an Indonesian chili paste…hmm but does it really matter as long as it is utterly delicious???
Except for baking which can be quite technical, I hope you use my recipes as a guide but not a Bible. If you have to pull out a recipe every time you go to cook, you probably will get tired of all the world. Instead I hope you go out there and try Sambal Olek which I used in this recipe and embrace it as much as I do so that you then incorporate it into your daily cooking.
and hey you don’t have to use Sambal Olek – use harissa or aji amarillo (Peruvian)…or maybe you don’t like spicy food – then all you have to do is omit the chili paste. The chili paste just gives the stew a little kick I find necessary, but I also have a penchant for spice.
My goal in presenting my recipes to you is to not only learn recipes, but to embrace the foods of other countries to make your own cooking more flavorful, as well as to learn a little more about people and cultures from around the world. The key to ending the violence and hate that seems pervasive recently is to eliminate fear of the unknown – whether it’s a different religion, a different race or a different way of life. What better way to break down biases and learn about other people than to break bread with someone? The chance to try some delicious food even if it’s a new cuisine, will always be a way to open communication. ok…getting off my soap box now…
Since the temperatures are cooling and it’s that time of year when we crave hearty stews and warm soups. Here are some more stews and soups you might want to try out this season.
Soup & Stew Recipes
- Ecuadorian Fish Soup
- Green Pozole (Mexican Hominy Soup)
- Malagasy Vanilla Chicken Stew
- Vatapa (Brazilian Shrimp Stew)
- Khao Soi (Thai Chicken Noodle Soup)
- Laotian Chicken Noodle Soup
- Tomato Meatball Soup (Dutch)
- Locro de Papa (Ecuadorian Potato Cheese Soup)
- Hong Kong Noodle Soup
- Cibinong Laksa (Indonesian)
- Doro Wat (Ethiopian Chicken Stew)
- Coconut Milk Bean Soup (Tanzania)
If all you do is try a new soup or stew every week, you can travel the world and teach your family about other cultures (at least what they eat 🙂 If you would like to still check out some other soups and stews — SEE HERE.
Nothing says #comfortfood more than a hearty soup!
Every spoon of this stew will just want you craving more…
especially on Day 2. Like almost all foods, they taste even better on the second day when the flavors have had time to really develop.
Smoky Pork Stew with Sweet Potatoes & Carrots
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lb. lean pork shoulder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1 chopped onion
- 2 finely chopped garlic cloves
- 1 chopped bell pepper
- 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
- 2 small sweet potatoes 10 oz., peeled and chopped
- 1 large carrot 8 oz., chopped
- 1 15.25 oz. can corn drained
- 1 tablespoon sambal olek
- ½ cup finely chopped mixed herbs mint, cilantro, parsley
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Cut off any large fat chunks off of the pork and cut into bite sized pieces.
- Toss the pork with the cumin, coriander, paprika, allspice, cloves and black pepper. Leave it to marinate for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, you can spend the time chopping the vegetables.
- In a large pot, heat oil.
- Add onion, garlic and bell pepper. Stir fry until the vegetables are softened.
- Push the vegetables to the perimeter of the pot and add the meat in a single layer in the middle.
- Cook on high heat for 5 minutes.
- Stir the meat with the vegetables to combine. Cook on high heat for another 5 minutes.
- Add the can of tomatoes. Fill the can with water and add it to the pot.
- Bring it to a boil.
- Reduce heat to medium and cook, partially covered, for 45 minutes. The pan should be covered about 75%.
- Add sweet potatoes, carrot, corn and sambal.
- Cook on high heat for 15 minutes, until vegetables are tender. It is important to cook on high heat so that some of the liquid will evaporate.
- Add herbs and salt. Stir to combine.
Don’t forget to visit the RECIPE INDEX with over 1000 recipes from around the world including lots of Vegetarian Recipes and Gluten Free Recipes!
Well it is comfort food season. If I can fit it in a bowl, it works for me. STEW is the ultimate comfort food. Love the flavour profile happening here. Leftovers would be amazing…since it always tastes better the next day.
I totally agree. Sometimes I cook and purposely don’t eat it until the next day so I can get the better flavor profile!
Nothing says winter better than a bowl of stew. This smoky pork stew looks so hearty and delicious and I know will be a hit at our house.
yes it is the perfect winter time comfort food
Love the flavours in this stew and can imagine how good it tastes the next day! Such a great recipe for the cold season!
yes it’s perfect when the temperatures outside are cold!
I love a good pork stew. The sweet potato addition sounds delicious. Can’t wait to try this. Thanks for sharing!
thank you – I am sure you will love it!
I think this pork stew sounds and looks amazing. And sambal oelek is a delicious chili paste! I agree, as long as it’s tasty it really doesn’t matter that we mix and match ingredients from around the world. I made Asian tacos the other day, and it was delicious!
yep it’s my fave chili paste but I’m probably partial since I grew up with it from the Indonesian side of my family
I am the only one in the family who eats pork, so that would mean if I make this I can eat the whole stew myself, no sharing involved.
more for your right 🙂
Pork is one of my favorite proteins I prepare stew often so easy to make and a full meal in one bowl. Pork shoulder is a very tasty pork cut too.
yes it cooks up so soft and tender!
This is definite comfort food! I think my husband would love this because he LOVES pork (and he’s currently on a partial chicken boycott). I agree with you that when I share my recipes, I want people to learn to cook with them and not just pull out the same recipe cards over and over – because there’s so much you can do with a basic recipe from your mind!
I agree 100% – I love to see how each person brings their own unique twist to the same recipes – just look at how many different recipes for something basic like banana bread you can find online.
It’s been not so long ago that I have started to collect family recipes. Something I can cook for a lot of people gathering on various occasions. So this stew is just perfect – great recipe!
thank you – yes it’s a great stew for a crowd!
Everything about this dish grabs my attention! It looks fantastic, and I’m pretty sute it could easily be adapted for an Instant Pot. I’m definitely going to give it a whirl! ?
oh yes – easily adaptable to an Instant Pot or Slow Cooker
I love stew recipes of all kinds! This one looks super tasty! I never use sweet potatoes but I really need to try that!
yep – it’s a great combination of flavors!
Sambal oelek does ring a bell since I grew up in Indonesia. And this pork stew sounds amazing especially in this cold Fall days. Can this be done in a slow cooker too?
OF course – it would be just as delicious in a slow cooker!
This is the ultimate cold weather comfort food meal! I’d love to curl up under a blanket with a hot bowl of this stew!
yes I am sure you will love it and will make you feel all warm and cozy inside!
This sound delicious! I love hearty meals like this on a cold wet fall evening. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
sure – you will love the flavors in this version I think!