Prepare your taste buds for a truly exceptional culinary experience! This African Spinach Stew, generously loaded with tender chicken and succulent shrimp, is more than just a meal – it’s a vibrant celebration of flavors that will transport you straight to the heart of African cuisine. Forget long hours in the kitchen; with your ingredients prepped, this mouth-watering delicacy comes together in a remarkable 30 minutes of cooking time. It’s the perfect blend of quick preparation and rich, satisfying taste, making it an ideal choice for busy weeknights or whenever you crave a hearty, wholesome meal.

Traditionally, this stew is enjoyed with a variety of starchy accompaniments. Imagine serving it alongside perfectly boiled plantains, soft and earthy cassava (yuca root), or even fluffy rice. For a truly authentic experience, pair it with a mound of your favorite fufu, whether it’s pounded yam, garri, or semolina. The versatility of this stew means you can choose your perfect pairing every time.

Beyond its incredible taste, this African spinach stew is also a nutritional powerhouse. It’s incredibly simple to make, packed with goodness for your body, and ready in no time at all. My top tip for significantly cutting down your preparation time is to use store-bought plain frozen spinach. This simple hack can reduce your cooking time by half! All you need to do is thaw the spinach thoroughly and then squeeze out any excess water. This step ensures your stew isn’t watery and concentrates the spinach’s natural flavors. It’s a technique I swear by, similar to how I prepare this other delicious stewed spinach recipe, which shares many wonderful similarities with today’s dish.

Embracing Local Greens: An Authentic Touch for African Spinach Stew

While frozen spinach offers convenience, if you’re in Africa or simply prefer fresh, local greens, this recipe is perfectly adaptable. Many regions, especially in Nigeria and Cameroon, use their traditional “local greens” which are fantastic alternatives to spinach. To prepare these fresh leafy vegetables for this stew, follow these simple steps:

1. Start by thoroughly chopping your chosen fresh vegetables. Ensure they are finely cut for an even texture in the stew.
2. Bring a pot of water to a boil, adding a small pinch of salt. Once boiling, add the chopped vegetables to the water, cover the pot, and allow them to rest and blanch for 2-5 minutes. This helps to soften the greens and reduce any potential bitterness.
3. Carefully strain the blanched vegetables, then rinse them immediately with cold water. This stops the cooking process and helps retain their vibrant color.
4. Lightly squeeze out any excess water from the greens. This is crucial for a stew that isn’t watery and allows the flavors to truly shine.
5. Once prepped, proceed with cooking as described in the full recipe below, integrating your fresh, local greens to create a truly authentic African spinach stew.

This method ensures that whether you’re using readily available frozen spinach or embracing traditional local greens, your stew will be absolutely delicious.

The Irresistible Duo: Chicken and Shrimp in Your Spinach Stew

Now, let’s talk about the divine combination of chicken and shrimp. It’s simply to die for! The tender, savory chicken complements the sweet, delicate shrimp beautifully, creating a symphony of flavors and textures in every spoonful of this rich spinach stew. This protein pairing not only adds incredible depth to the dish but also provides a healthy dose of lean protein. I love this combination so much that I use it to make a killer fried rice, a recipe I promise to share with you all very soon. But for now, let’s revel in the exquisite beauty and taste of this African spinach masterpiece.

A Deliciously Adaptable Vegetarian Twist

One of the fantastic aspects of this African Spinach Stew recipe is its versatility. To effortlessly transform this hearty meal into a delicious vegetarian or even vegan option, simply swap out the chicken and shrimp for meaty mushrooms. Cremini or button mushrooms work wonderfully, absorbing the rich flavors of the stew and adding an earthy depth that is just as satisfying. I assure you, the taste will be equally phenomenal, proving that this recipe truly caters to all palates and dietary preferences.

Watch How to Make This Flavorful African Spinach Stew

To give you a comprehensive guide and show you just how incredibly easy it is to prepare this African Spinach Stew, I’ve created a detailed video tutorial. Watching the process in action makes it even simpler to follow along and achieve perfect results every time. Don’t forget to click here to subscribe to my YouTube channel, PreciousKitchen, so you’ll never miss out on any of my exciting new recipes and cooking tips!

Watch the step-by-step video on how to make African spinach stew:

Now, let’s get down to the printable recipe details. Enjoy, friends!

African Spinach Stew with Chicken and Shrimp

This vibrant African spinach stew is a true delight, combining tender chicken and succulent shrimp with a rich tomato and onion base. It’s incredibly quick and easy to prepare, making it a perfect meal for busy weeknights. With only about 30 minutes of active cooking time, you can have a delicious and healthy African-inspired dinner on the table. For a fantastic vegan option, simply substitute the chicken and shrimp with mushrooms.

Prep Time:
10 mins

Cook Time:
30 mins

Total Time:
40 mins

Yield:
8 servings

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Ingredients

• 4-5 cups chopped spinach, tightly packed
  (from 2 1-pound bags, approximately 1 kg, of frozen chopped spinach, thawed and excess water squeezed out)
• 5 cups chopped tomatoes
  (from about 6 large tomatoes)
• 1 cup chopped onion
  (from half a large onion or one medium onion)
• 3 small seasoning cubes (Maggi or similar)
  (approximately 4g per cube)
• Salt (to taste)
• 1 cup canola oil or oil of choice
• 1 1/2 cups shrimps, peeled and deveined
  (12 oz or 340 g)
• 1/2 pound chicken breast, chopped into 1-inch slices
  (approximately 1/4 kg, from one chicken breast)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper

Instructions

1. Season the peeled and deveined shrimp with a pinch of salt and half of the ground white pepper. Toss well to ensure every piece of shrimp is evenly coated with the seasoning. Set aside.
2. Take the chopped chicken breast and season it with another pinch of salt and the remaining half of the white pepper. Mix thoroughly until the chicken pieces are fully seasoned.
3. Heat the canola oil (or your chosen oil) in a large pot over high heat for about 3-4 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the seasoned shrimp to the hot oil and fry until they turn a beautiful pink color, about 2 minutes per side. Once cooked, remove the shrimp from the pot and set aside. (Total cooking time for shrimp should be approximately 4 minutes).
4. Add the seasoned chicken pieces into the same pot with the residual oil. Cook for about 5 minutes, flipping them halfway through to ensure even cooking and browning. Remove the chicken once it is thoroughly cooked through and golden.
5. Pour the chopped onions into the oil left in the pot. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until they become translucent and fragrant. Next, add the chopped tomatoes. Cover the pot and cook on high heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. After 10 minutes, remove the lid and continue to cook the tomatoes uncovered for another 5 minutes, stirring frequently. The tomatoes are ready when they have significantly reduced, darkened in color, and the oil begins to separate and rise to the surface. This indicates they are well-fried and flavorful.
6. Stir in the salt and Maggi seasoning cubes into the tomato base, mixing well to dissolve and combine the flavors. Add the prepared spinach (thawed and squeezed, or blanched and squeezed local greens) and mix it thoroughly into the tomato and onion mixture. Finally, return the cooked shrimp and chicken to the pot. Stir everything gently to combine all the delicious ingredients. Turn off the heat.
7. Serve your African Spinach Stew warm with your favorite accompaniments, such as boiled plantains, fluffy boiled rice, fufu, or cassava. Enjoy this wholesome and flavorful meal!

Notes

1. To prepare a delicious vegan version of this meal, simply substitute the chicken and shrimp with your favorite mushrooms. Follow the same cooking procedure, and the result will be equally savory and satisfying.
2. This recipe uses a generous amount of tomatoes for a rich base. Feel free to adjust the quantity of tomatoes according to your preference if you prefer a less tomato-intensive stew.
3. If you’re looking to reduce the calorie count, you can cut the amount of oil used by half. However, please note that using less oil may affect how well the tomatoes fry and reduce in the pot, potentially altering the texture and depth of flavor of the base.
4. For those in Africa or preferring fresh greens, ‘local greens’ from Nigeria and Cameroon work perfectly. Chop the vegetables, boil in lightly salted water for 2-5 minutes, then strain, rinse with cold water, and lightly squeeze before proceeding with the recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 359kcal |
Carbohydrates: 9g |
Protein: 17g |
Fat: 29g |
Saturated Fat: 2g |
Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g |
Monounsaturated Fat: 18g |
Trans Fat: 0.1g |
Cholesterol: 90mg |
Sodium: 671mg |
Potassium: 622mg |
Fiber: 2g |
Sugar: 5g |
Vitamin A: 1591IU |
Vitamin C: 20mg |
Calcium: 99mg |
Iron: 2mg

Additional Info

Course: Main Dish, Side Dish

Cuisine: African, Cameroonian, Nigerian

Calories: 359

If you embark on this culinary adventure and create this fantastic African Spinach Stew, we would absolutely love to see your rendition! Please snap a picture of your delicious meal and share it with us on Facebook.com/preciouscore or tag us on Instagram: @preciouscore. Your photos inspire us and our community!