Healthy Stew (Beef, chicken or veggie)

A really easy, tasty and healthy food is our stew. It's up to you using beef, chicken or any veggie option. Anyway you are going to enjoy this dish. If you see other Peruvian recipes note that always frying onions and garlics is mandatory. This is common in traditional Peruvian Cuisine. Our alternative is healthy so we avoid this process as needed. Anyway we are going to fry but we discover base dressing doesn't need to be fried and as a matter of fact withour frying it is much tasty. Discover it by yourself. You do not loose flavour and in return you have health.
You can serve this dish alone, with rice and/or a fresh green salad (just tomato, lettuce, lemon, olive oil. balsamic vinager, salt and pepper).
This is for a family of six persons.
Ingredients you will need:
4 tomatoes, cutted in 4 pcs each one
4 garlic cloves chopped, the smaller you can.
1/2 teaspoon cummin
2 carrots chopped, thin rounded circles are OK.
1 turnip in pieces, when cooked is gpoing to be blended.
2 branches of celery chopped
2 bell pepper (doesn't matter the color), 1 chopped at julliene the other in 4-6 pcs clean
1/2 onion medium size chopped
1 apple (red or Winter or Washington) peeled
2 bay leaves
4 golden potatoes, peeled
1 cup green peas
1 cup corn kernels
salt and pepper to taste
3/4 cup of raisins
1/2 cup pecans or cashews or peanuts or sunflowers, whatever nut you like,grounded
3 table spoon of extra virgin olive oil

As you can have beef, chicken or a veggie option, the cooking process depends on the option choose. Mainly timing and when and how you add this part.
If using beef, the less fat it has would be better. If using chicken, choose skinless, boneless breast. For this both type one pound should be enough.
For the veggie option you can use firm toffu or veggie patties, your favorite brand should be fine.

Preparation

In a pot put the garlic, onion, cummin, salt, pepper, bay leaves, potatoes, turnip, apples, tomatoes and chopped bell pepper with 1 1/2 cups of water.
Put temperature control in "HIGH"
Add the beef or chicken. Note that for the veggie option you don't need to add now.
When boiling set to MEDIUM and leave boiling for 5 to 8 minutes.
Then take out turnip, tomatoes and apples. Blend these ingredients and return to the pot.
Keep cooking until meat is smooth.
Add carrots, bell pepper (chopped at julienne), celery, green peas, corn, raisins and nuts (your choice).
Veggie option must add now the choice chosen. Keep cooking in "MEDIUM LOW" for 5 - 8 minutes. Test the flavor if salt is OK go ahead otherwise add salt and or pepper. Potatoes should be cooked and soft. That's the best test to know if stew is ready.
Before serving add the olive oil and mix with a kitchen wooden spoon.

Serve with rice and salad.

This is a deliciuos but healthy and very simple food. It depends on the meat you are using to estimate time. The veggie option can be ready in about 30 minutes.

Give me your comments.

Bon Apettit