Kebab and Potato Stew – this hearty traditional Middle Eastern stew is made with beef kebab, sweet peppers and potatoes, all cooked in a rich tomato sauce.

If you liked my previous meatballs recipe, then you are going to love this Kebab one!

This delicious and wholesome Kebab and Potato Stew dish is the definition of comfort food since it is cooked with potatoes and sweet peppers in a rich, aromatic tomato and onion sauce.

Moreover, the meat in this recipe is so soft and lean, and the addition of potatoes and peppers make the dish a healthy, satisfying meal that everyone will enjoy.

what is kebab

Kebab is a very popular Middle Eastern dish made with cut-up or ground meat on skewers, mainly beef or lamb, and a mix of various spices. Although kebabs are typically cooked on skewers over a fire, some kebab dishes are oven baked in a pan, or prepared as a stew over stove-top such as this recipe.

Traditionally, we prepare this dish in stages and without potatoes! First we grill or lightly brown the meat over the stove–top. Next, we transfer it to a casserole dish and bake it with tomato and onion sauce in the oven.

However, I am taking an easy approach by cooking it all in one pot and adding potatoes and sweet red peppers. Hence, you do not need to fire up your grill or turn on the oven.

Ingredients needed

To make this delicious stew, you will need a handful of ingredients:

For the Kebab:

• Ground beef
• Salt and spices (seven spices)

For the Tomato Sauce:

• Tomatoes, peeled and chopped, or a can of tomato sauce
• Pomegranate molasses (optional)
• Onions, sliced
• Sweet red peppers, diced
• Potatoes, peeled and diced
• Salt and pepper to taste

what is seven spice

Seven Spice is a very popular and mostly utilized spice blend in the Middle East, particularly in Lebanon. It includes seven different spices mixed together to form a fragrant and pleasantly aromatic spice that can be used in all kinds of popular Middle Eastern meat dishes. These seven spices are allspice, black pepper, cinnamon, ground cloves, cumin, ground coriander, and nutmeg. You can find it in specialty stores or make your own blend at home.

You can easily make seven spice at home by mixing together equal portions of each spice.

how to make Kebab and Potato stew

Prepare the vegetables

First, start by peeling the potatoes and cutting them to roughly 1-inch cubes. Heat up some vegetable oil in a frying pan and deep-fry the potatoes until golden brown from all sides. Set aside. You can also do this step in the air-fryer for a healthier option.

While the potatoes are frying, dice the red bell peppers, peel and slice the onion and chop the tomatoes.

Prepare the Kebabs

In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef with the seven spices and some salt. Then, start forming them into kebabs or even meatballs.

After that, in a pan over medium–high heat, sauté the onions with some olive oil until translucent. Add the kebabs and cook until lightly browned. Then, add the sweet red peppers, let cook for a couple of minutes. Add the potatoes, and then top with chopped tomatoes and half a cup of water just to cover everything in the pot. Stir in tomato paste. Season with salt and pepper.

Let simmer for 10 minutes until the sauce thickens. Then, add pomegranate molasses and cook for another 2 minutes. I sometimes substitute the chopped tomatoes with store–bought tomato sauce, which gives the same result.

Finally, add a few sprigs of fresh thyme to give the final dish a pleasant and aromatic flavor. Serve immediately with vermicelli rice on the side or eat with pita bread.

Useful Tips

• For a healthier option, you can use the air-fryer to cook the potatoes, or even bake them in the oven. Simply place them in a baking sheet and drizzle with some olive oil. Bake on 450 F for 20 minutes or until fully cooked.
  
• I use 85% lean meat and never over cook it.
  
• If you do not have 7 spices, you can substitute with your favorite spices to season the meat.
  
• Using Pomegranate molasses in the sauce is optional. The dish will still come together nicely. However, it does add a nice tangy taste to the sauce for sure.
  

Try my other heart–warming beef and lamb recipes:

Beef Meatballs
Lamb Chops
Spiced Beef Puffs