JAMAICAN VEGAN ITAL STEW
Jamaican Vegan Ital Stew
Ital, the diet of the Rastafari Movement of Jamaica in the 1930’s is a vegetarian - vegan diet principally intended to improve health and energy. It focuses on unprocessed foods and simple flavors. Dreadlocks and Reggae music are the familiar symbols of the Rastafari religion. Ital is Vital, that’s how the diet got its name. This Ital stew is a one pot plant based dish with lots of vegetables, oat spinners, veg (soya) chunks and coconut milk. Enjoyed over rice.
VEGETABLE INGREDIENTS:
½ cup potatoes, peeled
½ cup zucchini
½ cup pumpkin
½ cup sweet potato
½ cup carrots
1 cup mixed bell peppers( green, yellow, red)
½ cup onions
½ cup tomatoes
¼ cup French beans
½ cup spring onions
INSTRUCTIONS
Chop all the vegetables
Keep aside
1 tbsp ginger paste
1 tbsp garlic paste
2-3 tbsp curry powder
½ tbsp onion powder
½ tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp paprika powder
½ tbsp chilli powder
½ tbsp black pepper powder
½ -1tbsp thyme ( can use fresh thyme)
1-2 bay leaf
1-2 fresh red chillies
Salt to taste
1 cup soya chunks
1cup coconut milk
½ tsp sugar
½ tsp vinegar
1 tbsp oil
Water
SPINNERS
½ cup oats flour
salt
Water to knead dough
INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE STEW
Soak the soya chunks in hot water for half hour. Drain. Pressure cook the soya chunks with water and salt for 1-2 whistles only. Drain and discard the liquid. Keep aside
Heat oil in a large pot or kadhai
Add bay leaf ,ginger , garlic
Fry for 1 min
Add potatoes and carrot. Fry for 2-3 mins
Now add onions
Fry for 1-2 mins
Add all the powdered spices
Fry for 1 min
Add all the remaining vegetables, salt, sugar and vinegar
Fry these vegetables for 2-3 mins
Add hot water , cover and cook for 4-5 mins on med low flame
Add soya chunks
Add coconut milk and cover and simmer for 7-10 mins
While the stew is simmering , knead the dough to make spinners. Add water as needed to prepare oats flour dough. Roll out the dough into sausage shapes.
Add the prepared spinners into the stew
Adjust water and coconut milk if needed as spinners will absorb liquid in the stew
Cover and cook another 5 mins on low
Cover and continue to cook another 10-15 mins on low until all vegetables and spinners are cooked
Adjust seasoning
Your healthy Vegan Ital Stew is ready
Enjoy with rice
NOTE
Browning ( caramelised sugar with water) can be used to darken the colour of the stew
Traditionally pimento peppers are added to stew( I didn’t have any)
Celery can be added too
SPICE LEVEL: 🌶🌶🌶