September 14, 2021, 4:13 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Ever tried Mafé? No? Then it’s high time! The peanut stew from West Africa is quick to prepare and so delicious that it’s a staple in West Africa.
Every home cook should know the recipe for Mafé: The stew from West Africa is based on peanuts but can be prepared in many different ways. There are vegetarian versions and those with chicken, lamb, or beef. Depending on the region, the types of vegetables used also vary; okra, corn, carrots, cabbage, potatoes, and various root vegetables can be added. Mafé is perfect for using up leftover vegetables. Just make sure you have tomatoes and peanuts at home, as they are essential components of the dish.
Mafé is mainly eaten in Mali, Senegal, and Gambia. The Mandinka and Bambara ethnic groups from Mali are said to have invented the stew. If you speak French, you might have come across the term “sauce d’arachide.” This is simply the French translation of the dish. In the Mandinka language, Mafé literally means “peanut butter sauce”–a fitting description of the dish and its thick consistency. The stew can be served with rice or couscous or eaten without any sides.
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Recipe for Mafé from West Africa
Ingredients
- 1 onion
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 1 chili
- 2 tomatoes
- 2 sweet potatoes
- 4 carrots
- 50 grams of tomato paste
- 400 ml of chicken broth
- 100 grams of peanut butter
- A handful of peanuts
- Some cilantro
Preparation
- Quarter the onion, garlic, and tomatoes. Slice the chili and carrots. Then peel and chop the sweet potato.
- Heat vegetable oil in a pot and sauté the onion, garlic, and chili.
- Add the tomato paste and roast. Then add the vegetables and pour in the chicken broth. Add peanut butter and some water until everything is covered.
- Season with salt and pepper and let simmer for 30 minutes.
- Garnish with cilantro and peanuts and enjoy the Mafé.