West African Maafe (Peanut Stew) Recipe
Maafe is a spicy peanut stew popular in West Africa, consisting of peanut butter, tomatoes, vegetables, spices and meat. It is described as a soup, stew or sauce depending on how thick the consistency of the liquid. Also often known as groundnut stew, it is typically served as a main course with rice, couscous or fufu.
It is most commonly associated with Senegal and Mali, it is also popular in Gambia and West Africa generally. It can also be found in Cameroon and France.
Whilst maafe isn’t a sweet dish, it can have a slightly sweet, savory flavor. Unlike the peanut butters widely available in the West, the peanut butter used to make maafe is usually not sweetened. Peanut paste is also used.
The difference between the two is that peanut butter may contain other ingredients like oil or salt while peanut paste is pure, ground up peanuts with no additives. The most popular meat choices are beef, chicken or lamb but it can also be made with seafood or vegetables. It is unlikely to find Maafe made with pork as many of the countries in West Africa are Islamic.
Root vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, carrots and yams, are a popular addition to Maafe. Some recipes will also include boiled eggs.
The word maafe itself refers to a sauce made using peanuts. It is also known as groundnut stew. Other African countries besides Senegal also enjoy variations of maafe. In Nigeria it tends to have a spicy kick and is served with fufu. In Gambia it is called Domoda and has an earthy orange color because it contains pumpkin.
Origin and Cultural Significance
Maafe originates in West Africa where peanuts grow well due to its sandy soil. There were already a couple of varieties of peanuts growing in West Africa before the Portuguese introduced more varieties of peanuts from South America in the 1500s.
This caused the establishment of peanut farming, a need for labor and a new range of culinary uses, from which came the creation of dishes like maafe.
Specifically, the origins of Maafe can be traced back to the Bambara people of Mali. It is believed to have evolved from traditional dishes prepared with groundnuts (peanuts) and local vegetables.
Maafe (Peanut Stew) Recipe
Maafe is a spicy peanut stew popular in West Africa, consisting of peanut butter, tomatoes, vegetables, spices and meat.
Ingredients
- Chicken - 1 ½ lb
- Peanut butter - 1 cup
- Peanut paste - 2 tbsp
- Tomatoes - 4
- Carrots - 4
- Sweet potatoes - 2
- Potatoes - 4
- Minced onion - 2
- Peanut oil - 3 tbsp
- Tomato paste - 2 tbsp
- Broth - 2 cups
- Salt and pepper - to taste
- Chilli pepper (optional) - 1
Instructions
- In a large pan, sauté the meat and onions in the peanut oil.
- When the onions start to turn golden brown but have not caramelized, reduce the heat and cook covered for a few more minutes.
- Add all other ingredients except the peanut paste, peanut butter and broth.
- Cover again and simmer for another 30 minutes, until the vegetables are tender, mixing a couple of times. Broth can be added if the mixture starts to dry out to quickly.
- Reduce the heat then add the peanut butter and peanut paste.
- Stir well to spread the peanuts throughout the mixture.
- Add the broth and stir into a creamy sauce.
- Simmer for a few minutes. Serve with rice.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1334Total Fat: 77gSaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 49gCholesterol: 189mgSodium: 1262mgCarbohydrates: 92gFiber: 14gSugar: 21gProtein: 76g
Nutrition is provided and calculated by Nutritionix. It is for general information purposes and is only a rough estimation.
