Maafe (West African Peanut Stew)

KP
Servings: 4 Total Time: 1 hr
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Chicken in a rich peanut and tomato sauce
African soup in a leaf-shaped bowl (illustrative)

Illustrative stock photos, not this exact recipe. Photo credits are at the bottom of the page.

Ingredients in this recipe

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Maafe, also called groundnut stew, is a rich West African dish popular in Senegal, Mali and The Gambia. Chicken or beef is simmered in a sauce of peanut butter, tomato and spices.

Serve it over rice. The sauce is hearty and mildly sweet, with heat that you control.

Recipe label: Based on traditional technique. Photo: illustrative stock photo, not the finished dish from this exact recipe.

Photo credits: Photo 1: Tochukwu Ekeh on Pexels; Photo 2: Tochukwu Ekeh on Pexels; Photo 3: Lionel Ntasano on Pexels. Free stock photos, used under the Unsplash or Pexels license and shown here as illustrations only.

African soup in a leaf-shaped bowl (illustrative)
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Maafe (West African Peanut Stew)

Author: KP Cooking Method: , Cuisine: Courses: Recipe Keys: Dairy Free Gluten Free Non Vegetarian Spicy
Prep Time 15 mins Cook Time 45 mins Total Time 1 hr
Servings: 4

Description

Maafe, the West African peanut stew, with chicken, tomatoes, ginger, sweet potato and a creamy peanut butter sauce. Serve over rice.

Ingredients

For the stew

Instructions

  1. Season the chicken and brown it in the oil in a heavy pot over medium-high heat. Remove and set aside.
  2. Cook the onion in the same pot for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger for 1 minute.
  3. Stir in the tomato paste and chopped tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes until jammy.
  4. Whisk the peanut butter with a ladle of warm stock until smooth, then stir it into the pot with the remaining stock.
  5. Add the chicken, sweet potato and whole chili. Cover and simmer gently for 30 to 35 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken reaches 74 C / 165 F and the sauce is thick.
  6. Remove the chili and serve over rice.

Note

Contains peanuts, a major allergen. Remove the whole chili before serving, and wear gloves when handling it. Leftovers keep 3 days refrigerated.
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Frequently asked questions

Expand All:

What kind of peanut butter is best?

Plain, unsweetened and unsalted peanut butter.

Can I make it vegetarian?

Yes, use chickpeas and vegetables instead of chicken.

How can I make it milder?

Leave out the chili, or keep it whole so that it flavors the stew gently.