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Kenyan Sukuma Wiki with Matoke (Beef Stew with Mashed Plantains)

The Kenyan lunch known as sukuma wiki—a combination of collard greens, chile-flecked ground meat, and tomatoes served with cornmeal or mashed plantain—is such a fortifying part of the workweek that its name means "week pusher".
From: Saveur SERVES 6

FOR THE MATOKE:
4 slightly ripe plantains, peeled and sliced ½" thick
Juice of 1 lemon
3 tbsp. unsalted butter
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 small green bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and roughly chopped
1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 tsp. curry powder
¼ tsp. coriander seeds
¼ tsp. cumin seeds
1 cup beef stock
1/3 cup roughly chopped cilantro
1 plum tomato, cored and roughly chopped
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
FOR THE STEW:
2 tbsp. canola oil
1 lb. boneless beef chuck, trimmed and cut into ¼" pieces
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 medium yellow onions, minced
1 small red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and minced
1 tsp. curry powder
1 tsp. hot paprika
2 cloves garlic, mashed into a paste
1 (2") piece ginger, peeled and mashed into a paste
3 canned whole peeled tomatoes, crushed by hand
12 cherry tomatoes, quartered
1 bunch spinach, tough stems trimmed, leaves thinly sliced
Small red and green Thai chiles, stemmed and thinly sliced for serving (optional)

1. Make the matoke: Stir plantains, lemon juice, and 3 cups boiling water in a bowl; when water is cool, drain plantains and set aside. Melt butter in a 4-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook garlic, bell pepper, and onion until soft, 8–10 minutes. Add curry, coriander, and cumin; cook until fragrant, 1–2 minutes. Add reserved plantains, the stock, cilantro, tomato, salt, and pepper; boil. Reduce heat to medium; cook, slightly covered, until plantains are very tender, about 20 minutes. Uncover and lightly mash; keep warm.

2. Make the stew: Heat oil in an 8-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Season beef with salt and pepper and add to pan all at once; cook until browned, 6–8 minutes. Push meat to one side of pan. Add onions and bell pepper; cook until soft, 3–4 minutes. Add curry, paprika, garlic, and ginger; cook until fragrant, 1–2 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes; simmer. Stir in cherry tomatoes, spinach, salt, and pepper; cook until spinach is wilted, 2–3 minutes. Serve with matoke and sliced chiles.