Aruban Beef Stew (Stoba)

If you’re looking for a comforting Caribbean dish, try the traditional Aruban Beef Stew (Stoba)! With tender beef, aromatic spices, and fresh vegetables, this dish is perfect for any meal. Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients:

• 1 kilo of beef ribs

• 3 tablespoons of annato oil (or substitute with other oil if needed)

• 1 cube of beef stock

• 250 ml boiling water

• 3 onions (chopped)

• 1 red pepper (seeds removed, chopped)

• 3 tablespoons tomato paste (canned)

• 3 tablespoons soy sauce

• 3 cloves garlic (squeezed)

• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 2 teaspoons ground cumin

• 1 teaspoon paprika

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 2 dried bay leaves

• 2 large carrots (or 1 small carrot, sliced)

• 2 teaspoons capers

• 3 tomatoes (chopped)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the ingredients:

   • Cut the beef ribs into small cubes (about 1 cm).

   • Chop the onions and bell pepper, remove seeds from the peppers and tomatoes.

   • Slice the carrot into about ½-inch thick pieces.

2. Cook the vegetables:

   • Heat a casserole pot on the stove with annato oil. Once hot, add the onions and bell pepper.

   • Squeeze in the garlic cloves and fry until the onions are translucent.

3. Add the beef:

   • Add the beef cubes to the pot, season with salt and pepper, and cook on high heat until the meat is seared on all sides.

4. Add spices and liquids:

   • Stir in the capers, tomato paste, soy sauce, nutmeg, cumin, paprika, and crumble the beef stock cube into the pot.

   • Pour in 250 ml of boiling water and stir well. Add the dried bay leaves.

5. Simmer the stew:

   • Turn the heat to low and let the stew simmer for 1½ hours, stirring occasionally. Keep an eye on the liquid levels and add more water if needed.

6. Test for tenderness:

   • After 1½ hours, check the beef by tasting a cube. If it’s still tough, let it simmer for another 30 minutes until the meat is tender and falls apart easily.

7. Add the carrots and tomatoes:

   • Once the beef is tender, add the sliced carrots and chopped tomatoes to the pot.

   • Let the stew cook until the carrots are soft (you can test by easily poking a fork through).

8. Serve:

   • Serve the Aruban Beef Stew with yellow rice and cucumber slices for a complete and delicious meal.

Photo credits : https://www.myarubaguide.com/blogs/aruban-beef-stew-stoba