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Tomato Bredie

South African

Tomato Bredie

A slow-cooked Cape stew of tender lamb and tomatoes infused with cinnamon and bay.

~125 mintotal~483 kcalper serving~36g protein~28g carbs~26g fat

Estimated. Worked out from the ingredients using the UK food composition tables, so treat it as a guide rather than a measurement. A typical recipe lands within about a quarter of the true figure. Makes about 4.

Ingredients

  • 500g lamb (or beef), cubed
  • 4–5 large tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 2 potatoes, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp sugar (optional)
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • Salt & pepper

Cooking Steps

  1. Heat oil and brown lamb cubes well. Remove and set aside.

  2. Add onions and garlic to the pot. Cook until soft and golden.

  3. Stir in tomatoes, cinnamon, sugar (optional), salt, pepper, and bay leaves. Cook 10 minutes until tomatoes break down.

  4. Return lamb to pot and add potatoes. Simmer gently for 1–1.5 hours until meat is tender.

  5. Serve with rice, pap, or crusty bread.

Optional Enhancements

  • Use sweet potatoes instead of potatoes
  • Add green beans
  • Add cumin or coriander
  • Make vegetarian with aubergine and chickpeas

Plant & Growing Tips

  • Tomatoes: Need heat, sun, and consistent watering; start early indoors; mulch to prevent soil splash
  • Potatoes: Plant seed potatoes in early spring; hill soil around plants as they grow; water deeply once flowering
  • Onions & Garlic: Plant sets/cloves in well-drained sunny beds; keep weed-free
  • Bay: Grows well in large pots; protect from frost in cooler regions

Natural Pest Control

  • Neem spray for whiteflies on tomatoes
  • Rotate crops yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases
  • Use chilli-garlic spray to deter caterpillars
  • Plant basil or parsley near tomatoes to improve flavour and deter pests

Harvest

  • Tomatoes: Pick fully red for richest bredie flavour; overripe tomatoes work especially well
  • Potatoes: Harvest once plants die back; cure for 1–2 weeks before storage
  • Onions: Lift bulbs when tops yellow and dry
  • Bay Leaves: Pick mature leaves; young ones lack flavour

Storing & Freezing

Improves in flavour the next day. Refrigerate 3–4 days. Freeze 3 months.

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