If you're craving something warm and comforting, this instant pot lamb stew is what you need! Made with tender lamb chunks, veggies, and aromatic spices, this hearty stew will become a family favorite!
quick links
- ❤️ Why you'll love it
- What Is Lamb Stew?
- 🥘 Equipment Used
- 🧾 Ingredients Used
- 🔪 How To Make This Recipe
- How to Make Lamb Stew in the Slow Cooker
- How to Make African Lamb Stew on the Stove
- 🥫 Storing and Reheating
- 💭 Tips and Variations
- 🍽️ What can I eat this recipe with?
- 👩🍳 Frequently asked questions
- 📚 Related Recipes
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
❤️ Why you'll love it
If you're looking for an exciting way to change up your regular weeknight meal routine, look no further than this instant pot lamb stew recipe. This comforting meal is sure to be a hit with the whole family and is perfect for meal prep. I love lamb meat and use it in my lamb curry and air fryer lamb chops. It tastes less gamey than goat meat and is more tender than regular beef.
What Is Lamb Stew?
African lamb stew is a comforting, hearty stew made with tomatoes, peppers, vegetables, and aromatic spices. It is made using tougher cuts of lamb, cut into smaller pieces, and cooked until tender.
There are many variations of lamb stew, like the Irish lamb stew or Moroccan Harira made with lamb meat, but my version is the African version. It's packed with tomatoes and peppers and has so much flavor! Plus, it's naturally lower carb since it doesn't contain any root vegetables.
🥘 Equipment Used
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I use the instant pot to make this African lamb stew, but any electric pressure cooker will do. Pressure cooking lamb is a great way to make it juicy, tender and flavorful quickly. You can also make this lamb stew on the stove top or in a slow cooker.
🧾 Ingredients Used
- Lamb stew meat: I used lamb shoulder for this recipe, and I get it from the grocery store or from a meat market.
- Veggies: Tomatoes, red bell pepper, habanero pepper, and onions.
- Spices: Curry powder, bouillon powder, black pepper, and salt.
- Olive oil: You can use your favorite cooking oil to sauté the veggies in the bottom of the pan before starting your pressure cooker.
🔪 How To Make This Recipe
- Wash and cut the lamb shoulder into medium-sized cubes. If you can buy it already precut, all the better!
- Blend the tomatoes, habanero pepper, and red bell pepper in a blender. Use very little water so that it doesn't become watery. Chop the onion and set it aside.
- Turn the instant pot to sauté mode. Add some olive oil and when heated, add the lamb cubes. Brown the lamb meat for a few minutes.
- Take out the browned lamb pieces with a slotted spoon and set them aside. Add the onions and saute for a few minutes.
- Add the blended tomato mix and spices. Stir together with a wooden spoon and scrape the browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
- Add the lamb meat back in the instant pot and set it to high pressure for 20 minutes.
- When the timer beeps, let the instant pot do a natural pressure release. Turn the instant pot to saute mode, taste for spices and adjust. Let the soup simmer until it thickens.
How to Make Lamb Stew in the Slow Cooker
To make this recipe in the slow cooker, cook for 3-4 hours on high or 8 hours on low.
How to Make African Lamb Stew on the Stove
African lamb stew can also be easily made on the stove. The steps are the same until when you pour in the tomato mixture. Sauté the tomato mix on medium-high heat in a deep large skillet or o. Then cook the stew on low heat for 30-40 minutes till the lamb meat is done. Check every few minutes and stir intermittently.
🥫 Storing and Reheating
This lamb stew instant pot recipe keeps very well in the fridge for up to 5 days. Store it in an airtight container to maintain freshness. You can also freeze it for up to 2 months. To reheat, let it thaw overnight in the fridge. Then reheat on the stove with a little water.
💭 Tips and Variations
- If your stew is a little too thick, add a bit of beef stock and simmer for a few minutes to thin it out.
- If you're in a hurry, let the lamb stew do a natural release for at least 10 minutes, then quickly release the remaining pressure by turning the knob to the venting position.
- You can substitute tomato sauce or tomato paste in this recipe. But don't omit the peppers, as it helps neutralize the acidity of the tomatoes.
🍽️ What can I eat this recipe with?
This lamb stew is amazing with rice or noodles. For a low-carb dinner, I like to enjoy it with keto rice, cauliflower rice, or shirataki noodles.
👩🍳 Frequently asked questions
Can you overcook lamb in the instant pot?
Yes, you can overcook lamb pieces of meat (or any meat for that matter) in the instant pot. This will make it dry and crumbly. Make sure you follow the instructions in the recipe closely to make sure your lamb meat turns out just perfect!
How do I make lamb stew meat tender?
Lamb meat needs to be cooked long enough to make it as tender as you would like. Don't be in a hurry to use the quick release feature to reduce the Instant Pot's pressure. Letting it release naturally will ensure the meat soaks up the moisture and flavor and comes out with just the right fork-tender texture.
What cut of lamb is best for African lamb stew?
Lamb shoulder is the perfect cut of meat to make African lamb stew. It breaks down to have just the right texture - not too soft and not too firm. You can use boneless leg of lamb too.
📚 Related Recipes
Check out these other delicious soups and stews!
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot African Lamb Stew
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb lamb meat (lamb shoulder)
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 3 roma tomatoes
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 habanero pepper
- ½ onion
- ½ teaspoon curry
- 1 teaspoon bouillon powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
Instructions
- Wash and cut the lamb shoulder, if not already cut.
- Blend the tomatoes, habanero pepper, and red bell pepper in a blender.
- Chop the onion and set it aside.
- Turn the instant pot to saute mode.
- Add some olive oil, then brown the lamb meat for a few minutes.
- Take out the lamb meat and set it aside.
- Add the onions and saute for a few minutes.
- Add the blended tomato mix and spices. Stir together and scrape the bottom of the pot to deglaze.
- Add the lamb meat back in the instant pot and set it to high pressure for 20 minutes.
- Let it naturally release the pressure.
- Turn the instant pot to saute mode and adjust spices.
- Let the soup simmer till it thickens.
Notes
- If your stew is a little too thick, add a bit of beef stock and simmer for a few minutes to thin it out.
- If you're in a hurry, let the lamb stew do a natural release for at least 10 minutes, then quickly release the remaining pressure by turning the knob to the venting position.
- You can substitute tomato sauce or tomato paste for tomatoes in this recipe. But don't omit the peppers, as it helps neutralize the acidity of the tomatoes.
Nutrition
Tayo Oredola is the founder of Low Carb Africa, where she shares healthy, low carb dishes with global flavors. She is passionate about teaching people how to cook drool-worthy dishes while losing weight and living their best lives. Tayo’s recipes have been featured on MSN, Women’s Health, Parade, Yahoo News, Pure Wow, Essence, and other online publications.
hello Tayo I'm trying to make this recipe today was just wondering did you use tomato bouillon or chicken bouillon in your recipe thanks in advance
Hi Shaqualia, I used chicken bouillon. I hope you enjoy it!
OMG THIS RECIPE WAS OUTSTANDING MY FAMILY DEVOURED IT! I WASNT SURE WHICH BULLION TO USE BUT I ENDED UP USING THE TOMATOE BULLION WITH THE CHICKEN FLAVOR IN IT AND IT CAME OUT DELICIOUS THANKS SO MUCH ILL BE COMING BACK FOR MORE RECIPES
You're so welcome, Shaqualia. I am so thrilled to hear your family enjoyed this recipe!
I've made this for the fourth time so you already this recipe is fire my kids and husband that are so picky love it please give it a try you won't be disappointed
That's awesome to hear! So glad your family loves it. Thanks for the glowing recommendation! 😊
made this today it was devine , used veg bullion though
I'm glad you enjoyed the lamb stew, Michael!
If I substitute tomato sauce or paste for fresh tomato, what quantity should I use? And do I need to add more liquid?
Hi Jess, you can use tomato sauce for this recipe, but since I didn't use it, I can't give exact substitutions.
Wow, wow, wow. I didn't think you could get such a complex flavor from simple ingredients. This is going on my rotation, partner loved it and it's delicious way to eat lamb. Can't waot to try your other recipes!
Thank you Liz! The lamb stew is one of my family favorites too 🙂
I made this yesterday for my boyfriend’s birthday who is west African and he devoured it!!! It was sooo delicious! Super easy to make! I did add some palm oil because he loves the flavor it brings to all sauces and I did add 2 cups of lamb bouillon to stretch my sauce and doubled the tomatoes because I had more meat than the recipe required but my oh my! It was definitely that taste of home he needed!
Hi Cashéy, I am so glad this dish made your boyfriend's birthday special. Thank you for your wonderful feedback!
This stew is incredible! This recipe is going to be a staple in my house! Thank you so much!!
Thank you for your feedback, Megan!
This stew is so rich, delicious and comforting. While I thought I hated lamb, this made a believer out of me. The flavors were perfect. I added three cups of beef broth to serve over rice and to stretch it for my large family. Thank you so much.