1tablespoonAji Panca Sin Picante* spice or smoked paprika
2bay leaves
1/4teaspooneach salt and pepper
1teaspoondark brown sugar
4medium-sized Yukon Gold potatoescut into quarters**
water
1tablespoonfresh parsleychopped
1/2cupfrozen peas
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Place oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add red onion and salt, and cook until the onion begins to brown, about 7 minutes. Add the garlic to the pot with the onions, and cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the wine, and allow the alcohol to evaporate (when you can smell the alcohol, that means it is evaporating), about 5 minutes. The wine will reduce a little as well.
Stir the tomato paste, and all of the spices (cumin through brown sugar) into the pot, breaking up the bouillon cube as you stir. Add the potatoes to the pot, and enough water to cover the potatoes by about 1/2-inch.
Bring the stew to a boil. Lower the heat to simmer, and allow to cook until the potatoes are tender, about 20-30 minutes. Be sure to keep an eye on the stew, and if the water is evaporating too quickly, add more.
Add the parsley and frozen peas and simmer for another 3 minutes until the peas are heated through. Taste for seasonings, adding salt and pepper as desired.
Serve hot with freshly cooked brown rice.
Notes
Cook's notes: *The instructor of the Peruvian Cooking class gave us some of this Aji Panca Sin Picante spice to take home. If you can't find it at the store, or don't want to try locating it, use smoked paprika or even chili powder. You'll still get a really nice stew. ** You can chop your veggies into whatever size you'd like. I made the chunks rather large to give some nice body to the stew. The only thing you want to keep in mind is that the potato pieces should be approximately the same size so that they cook evenly.