Tomato paste stew is such a blessing to anyone who has to make a pot of tomato stew in a jiffy. It is easy, simple, quick to make and tastes delicious. Tomato paste is simply tomatoes whose seeds and skin have been removed. They are then cooked to a thick concentrated consistency.
Tomato paste is a necessity in the kitchen and can be used to make Pasta sauce, barbecue sauce, tomato juice, homemade ketchup, stews, soups, pizza sauce, chillis etc. Although it lacks the fresh taste of whole tomato, Tomato paste has an intense rich tomato flavour that is delicious when made into a stew, Nigerian tomato paste stew. It also adds body to any dish although if too much of it is used, it can get too acidic. An added bonus? it is cheap.
When making a stew with only tomato paste, you need to use a good tasting brand. I have my current favourite. Tomato paste is best fried briefly for the flavour to develop. Sometimes I thin down the paste a little with water to avoid burning, it is an optional step. You can add your paste straight into the oil but you will need to stir it often to keep it from burning. Tatashe and shombo are optional.
To prepare tomato paste stew
Cooked Fish, beef, chicken etc 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1 medium onion, sliced 1/2 cup tomato paste 2 scotch bonnet, ground 2 seasoning cubes 1/2 teaspoon dry thyme 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
Pour vegetable oil into a pot and place over medium heat. when hot add onions and fry gently until softened.
In a bowl, mix tomato paste with 2 tablespoons of water to thin it down, set aside.
Add thyme and curry stir well.
Add tomato paste, scotch bonnet and seasoning cube.
Fry for about 5 minutes until it there is no rawness.
Add your meat/fish and stock or water stir, cover and cook for 5 minutes.
Taste and correct seasoning.
Your stew is ready. Serve with rice, yam, potatoes, pasta, with ewedu for swallow etc.
If you enjoyed my Tomato Paste Stew, you will also enjoy my Quick and easy tomato sauce, Easy Nigerian Tomato Stew, Homemade Pizza Sauce and Palm oil Stew.
Tomato paste stew (Tomato Puree or Tinned Tomato)
Ingredients
- Cooked Fish (beef, chicken etc.)
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 medium onion (sliced)
- ½ cup tomato paste
- 2 scotch bonnet (ground)
- 2 seasoning cubes
- ½ teaspoon dry thyme
- ½ teaspoon curry powder
Instructions
- Pour vegetable oil into a pot and place over medium heat. when hot add onions and fry gently until softened.
- In a bowl, mix tomato paste with 2 tablespoons of water to thin it down, set aside.
- Add thyme and curry stir well.
- Add tomato paste, scotch bonnet and seasoning cube.
- Fry for about 5 minutes until it there is no rawness.
- Add your meat/fish and stock or water stir, cover and cook for 5 minutes.
- Taste and correct seasoning.
- Your stew is ready. Serve with rice, yam, potatoes, pasta, with ewedu for swallow etc.
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I am Ganiru, a wife, a mother, a food blogger, a chef, an author and an accountant. I love to cook and write about food, especially Nigerian and afro-centric food... 
This was such a lifesaver and very delicious!!!
Hi Yvonne, I’m so glad to be of help. Do try other recipes.
elder siblings left me home alone with my Dad and younger brother……you came to my rescue🥹
Kaka D, So glad to be of help. Please keep trying out our other recipes.
Haha am 17 and you helped me cook my first stew
Way to go Paul, congratulations!!! I hope you try out more recipes.