Tomato Bredie (Cape Lamb and Tomato Stew)
Local name: Tamatiebredie
In short: Bone-in lamb stewed in its own juices with ripe tomatoes, potatoes, cinnamon and cloves, a slow-cooked Cape stew best served with white rice. It takes about 2 h 55 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 2 h 30 min
- Total
- 2 h 55 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 465 kcal
Tomato bredie is a slow-cooked Cape stew of lamb, ripe tomatoes and potatoes, scented with cinnamon, cloves and a little chili. Bredies are made with very little added liquid, so the meat cooks in its own juices while the tomatoes break down into a thick, sweet and sharp sauce. It is a Cape Malay and Afrikaner Sunday classic, best made a day ahead and served with white rice to catch the sauce.
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a heavy pot over medium-high heat and brown the lamb in batches, 4 to 5 minutes per batch. Set aside.
- In the same pot, cook the onions for 8 minutes until golden, then add the garlic for 1 minute.
- Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, cinnamon, cloves, chili, bay leaves, sugar, salt, pepper and water. Bring to a boil, scraping up the browned bits.
- Return the lamb to the pot, cover and simmer on low for 1 hour 15 minutes, stirring now and then, until the lamb is nearly tender.
- Nestle the potatoes into the sauce, cover and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes, until the potatoes are tender and the lamb falls off the bone.
- Uncover for the last 10 minutes to thicken the sauce. Remove the cinnamon, bay leaves and chili, rest for 10 minutes and serve with rice.
Tips
- Use canned tomatoes if fresh ones are not fully ripe. The sugar balances the acidity and helps the sauce turn glossy.
- The same base makes green bean bredie. Leave out the potatoes and add 600 g (1.3 lb) trimmed green beans for the last 30 minutes.
Questions and answers
What does bredie mean?
A bredie is a slow-cooked Cape stew of meat and vegetables made with very little added liquid. Tomato bredie is one of the most popular kinds.
Can I make tomato bredie in the oven?
Yes. Bake it covered at 160°C (325°F) for 2 hours, adding the potatoes after the first hour.
What goes with tomato bredie?
White rice is the standard partner. Crusty bread, pumpkin fritters and a sweet and sour sambal are also traditional.
How long does it take to make Tomato Bredie (Cape Lamb and Tomato Stew)?
About 2 h 55 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 2 h 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Tomato Bredie (Cape Lamb and Tomato Stew)?
About 465 kcal per serving, with 25 g of protein, 34 g of carbohydrates and 25 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 465 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 25 g |
| Carbohydrates | 34 g |
| Fat | 25 g |
| Fiber | 6 g |
| Sugar | 12 g |
| Sodium | 650 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
