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Hearty Sweet Potato Stew

A flavorful, creamy Sweet Potato Stew with aromatic spices, tender sweet potatoes, and kale, finished with sunflower seed butter.
Perfect for cozy dinners, freezer meals, or quick stovetop preparation in under 30 minutes.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 10 minutes
Course Main Course, Soup
Cuisine African-Inspired, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Servings 5

Equipment

  • 1 Slow Cooker or Crockpot
  • 1 Large Pot (for stovetop method)
  • 1 Chef’s Knife
  • 1 cutting board
  • 1 Ladle

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups sweet potatoes peeled and cubed (1–2 large)
  • 1 shallot peeled and roughly chopped (~1/3 cup)
  • 5 oz tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ginger powder
  • 2 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup lacinato kale roughly chopped
  • 1/3 cup sunflower seed butter

Instructions
 

  • Prepare Ingredients: Begin by peeling and cutting the sweet potatoes into uniform ½-inch cubes to ensure even cooking.
    Roughly chop the shallot and kale. Measure out tomato paste, spices, broth, water, and sunflower seed butter so everything is ready.
  • Assemble in Slow Cooker: Place the sweet potatoes, chopped shallot, tomato paste, curry powder, cumin, ginger powder, vegetable broth, and kosher salt into the slow cooker.
    Stir gently to distribute spices and paste evenly.
  • Slow Cook Stew: Cover the slow cooker with its lid.
    Cook on high heat for 4 hours or on low heat for 8 hours.
    If using low heat, add an extra cup of water or broth to maintain a perfect consistency.
  • Add Kale: About 30 minutes before serving, stir in the chopped kale along with 2 cups of water.
    Allow the kale to soften and absorb the stew’s flavors while maintaining a slight texture.
  • Finish with Sunflower Butter: Once the sweet potatoes are tender and the kale is soft, remove the lid and stir in the sunflower seed butter off the heat.
    This prevents the butter from separating and ensures a creamy texture.
  • Taste and Adjust: Taste the stew and adjust seasoning with additional salt, spices, or water to achieve your preferred flavor and consistency.
  • Serve Warm: Ladle the stew into bowls, optionally garnish with roasted sunflower seeds or fresh cilantro, and serve immediately.
    Enjoy as a hearty, wholesome main dish or pair with your favorite bread.

Notes

  • Use unsweetened sunflower seed butter to maintain a balanced flavor and creamy texture.
  • Add sunflower seed butter at the end, off heat, to prevent separation or grittiness.
  • Fresh ginger can replace dried ginger powder; adjust quantity to taste.
  • Use Indian-style curry powder rather than Thai curry for authentic flavor.
  • Optional garnishes include fresh cilantro or roasted sunflower seeds for extra texture and visual appeal.
  • Low-sodium vegetable broth is recommended to control salt levels.
  • Can be prepared as a freezer meal; combine main ingredients in a freezer-safe container and freeze until ready to cook.