Maafe (Senegalese Peanut Stew)

Do you know you can actually cook with peanut butter? Yes, you can… the African way! This West African Maafe, or Mafe, is one of the creamiest and yummiest stews you will ever make in your kitchen.

Your pot is going to be a combination of peanut butter richness, tangy tomato, aromatics and spices, and your choice of protein and veggies.

This maafe starts with protein rubbed with some heady spices, ginger and garlic. Then your meat is simmered in an onion and tomato based sauce which is ultimately thickened up with a serious amount of peanut butter. It all results in a deep and rich, nutty flavored gravy… How does all this sound to you?

As for me, Maafe won my heart in a heartbeat, as it reminds me of my very favorite butter chicken in look, texture and even comes close in taste. Why not? Both of them are buttery tomato based stew-like “things” with luscious fall of the bone meat. Take one look at this bowl and if this one piques your curiosity, you may ask me…

So what is Maafe?

In Africa, especially on the West coast, you will find something called “Groundnut stew” in abundance, mostly made with ground peanuts or peanut butter. Different countries, regions and ethnic groups have their specific spins, with whatever ingredients are on hand.

The same orange red concoction, which is sometimes referred to as groundnut soup instead of stew, is known by different names in different African countries like… Mafé or Maafe (Senegal), Sauce d’Arachide (Ivory coast ) Tigadèguèna or Tigadegena (Mali) , Domoda (Gambia), African Peanut Stew, Groundnut Stew…

Mafe can trace its origins to the Mandinka and Bambara people of Mali. Its name in the Mandinka language is “domodah”, and “tigadenmga” in Bamanankan.

From Mali it spread to neighboring Senegal and the rest of Western Africa. It even found its way across the Atlantic to the American South, where you see remnants of peanut stew or peanut soup in some regions.

It’s believed that peanut stew became popular in Western Africa during the Colonial era, when more efforts were channeled into groundnut farming. Plenty of nuts, what to do? Incorporate them into everyday food like stews and soups.

Maafe, as mentioned above, is the Senegalese version of peanut stew.

What kind of meat to use

Some folks make it with lamb, some with beef, others make it with chicken or even fish.

Sometimes boiled eggs are used in place of meat, and even just a vegetarian stew is not that uncommon. Pork is mostly out of the question, as most Senegalese are Muslims.

When I make stew, I always go for fattier cuts of meat to ensure that melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness. For beef, chuck is my top choice, but short ribs or oxtail work great too.

And when it comes to chicken, I never use chicken breasts, they’re just not right for stew. Instead, I opt for thighs or drumsticks, bone-in or boneless, or a mix of both. Personally, I prefer skinless chicken for stewing.

What kind of veggies to use

The most common vegetables in the maafe pot are root vegetables like potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots and yams. Often cabbage, okra and eggplant are also used.

I am using red and green bell pepper along with carrots.

Using peas and mushrooms is not traditional, but I can see them going great in this stew.

Ingredients Needed

• Meat – I am making two batches here, one with boneless skinless chicken thighs and one with beef chuck.
• Peanut butter – The STAR.
• Onion – Chopped.
• Tomato – Sauce and paste that gives beautiful vibrant color and flavor.
• Aromatics – Garlic, ginger, cilantro (for garnishing).
• Hot pepper – Some like it hot so they use habanero. Some don’t, so they can handle a little jalapeño.
• Veggies
• Chicken broth
• Spices – Paprika, red chili flakes, freshly ground black pepper.

How to make Mafe

I start by cutting the meat into large chunks. I avoid small pieces because they might fall apart during cooking. Then, I season the chunks with salt, pepper, paprika, ginger, and garlic. If I have time, I let them marinate for a few hours to soak up the flavors.

When I’m ready to cook, I heat some oil in a pot and sear the meat pieces for about 4-5 minutes on each side. This gives them a nice color and adds flavor to the stew. Then, I remove the meat from the pot and set it aside.

In the same pot, I toss in some chopped onions and sauté them until they turn golden brown, making sure to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom.

Then, I add in chopped garlic, ginger, and jalapeño, cooking them for about a minute. Next, I stir in some tomato paste and let it cook for another minute.

After that, I pour in the tomato sauce and add paprika, red chili flakes, and salt. Everything simmers together for about 5 minutes to develop those delicious flavors.

Time to stir in chicken broth and mix well.

I return the meat to the pot, along with the carrots and any other root vegetables I’m using. After that, I cover the pot and let everything cook together for about 5 minutes.

Then comes the magic touch – a generous dollop of peanut butter. I keep stirring until it melts beautifully into the sauce, adding that rich, nutty flavor that makes this stew so irresistible.

As the stew simmers, I keep a close eye on it, cooking it until the butter starts to separate and the sauce takes on a vibrant red-orange hue. That’s when I know the flavors have melded perfectly. Around the last half hour of cooking, I toss in some bell pepper chunks for added crunch and flavor.

All that’s left is to garnish your stew with some chopped cilantro if you like, or some fresh peanuts.

What to serve with

I love serving this stew over a generous portion of rice, it soaks up all the delicious flavors. But it’s also fantastic with couscous for a hearty, satisfying meal.

For a low-carb option, cauliflower rice is a great choice. And when I’m feeling extra indulgent, I’ll whip up some warm flatbread or my favorite Indian naan, roti, or paratha to accompany it.

How is it served in Senegal?

Maafe, like other food in Senegal, is made for sharing and eating together with friends and family. Guests or family gather around the meal, which is mostly served on a big huge platter.

Everyone chooses a place around the platter. They mostly eat with their hands. He or she will only eat the food from his or her section of the platter. It’s considered very rude to eat from another person’s section of the platter. The host will distribute the meat and vegetables to ensure that everyone gets plenty.

Senegalese food is not only one of the richest cuisines in West Africa, but it embodies the practice of enjoying it TOGETHER. I am sure when you make this bright and fragrant stew, it’s going to win your heart in a heartbeat… just like mine!

Try my version of Maafe and learn to cook new African flavors in your kitchen. Show GypsyPlate love… Subscribe and Share!

Chicken Maafe…

And Beef Maafe, on our Gypsy Plate… enjoy!

Try these other great African recipes!
South African Chicken Curry
Peri Peri Chicken
Chicken Jollof Rice
Chermoula Sauce
Moroccan Lentil Soup
Beef Tagine
Kedjenou Chicken
Chakalaka

Maafe (Senegalese Peanut Stew)

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

This West African peanut stew, Maafe (or Mafe), is loaded with rich savory flavors. Any meat of your choice goes great in this perfectly spiced peanut butter and tomato based sauce.

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Ingredients

• 2 lbs chicken or beef, cut into chunks (see note 1)

To marinate the meat

• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic, finely chopped or minced
• 1 tsp ginger, finely chopped or minced
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp freshly cracked black pepper

For Maafe

• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 Tbsp garlic, minced
• 1 Tbsp ginger, minced
• 1 jalapeño, finely chopped (See note 2)
• 3 Tbsp tomato paste
• 1 cup tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1-2 tsp red chili flakes (I used 2)
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into chunks
• 1 green bell pepper, cut into chunks
• 10-12, baby carrots
• 3 cups chicken broth
• ½ cup peanut butter
• 3-4 Tbsp oil
• Salt to taste

Instructions

Stove Top Method

1. Season chicken or beef with all the marinating ingredients and marinate at least 30 minutes to a few hours.
2. Heat 3 Tbsp oil over medium high heat in a skillet and sear meat 4-5 minutes per side, till it gets a nice brown color. Plate it out.
3. If needed, add remaining 1 Tbsp oil. Add in chopped onion and sauté till it turns golden brown in color, scraping any brown bit from the bottom of the pan into the mixture.
4. Add in minced ginger, garlic and jalapeño. Cook for a minute. Stir in tomato paste and cook for a minute. Add in tomato sauce along with salt, paprika, red chili flakes. Cook for 5 minutes.
5. Stir in chicken broth and mix well. Add meat back to the pot along with carrots. Cook for 5 minutes.
6. Add in peanut butter and stir well till it melts and combines well with the sauce. Cover and cook till meat is tender, about 45 minutes for chicken or about 1-1.5 hours for beef, depending on the cut. In the last half an hour of cook time, add in bell peppers. Taste and adjust for salt.
7. Serve and garnish with chopped cilantro and peanuts.

Instant Pot method

1. Season and marinate the meat with salt, pepper, paprika, chopped ginger and garlic. Heat the instant pot using SAUTE mode and once oil is hot, sear the meat pieces till they are little brown, 4-5 minutes per side. Plate them out.
2. Add chopped onions to the pressure cooker and sauté, stirring up brown stickings from the bottom. Cook till onion is golden brown.
3. Add in chopped ginger, garlic and jalapeno and cook for a minute. Add in tomato paste and cook for a minute. Stir in tomato sauce along with paprika, red chili flakes and salt. Cook for 5 minutes.
4. Stir in chicken broth. Add in peanut butter and stir well till it is dissolved. Add meat along with carrots and bell peppers. Mix well. Close the lid and pressure cook on HIGH for 5 minutes for chicken and 35 minutes for beef. In the case of beef, add in bell peppers later, as they can turn to mush, or skip them altogether.
5. Release pressure using the natural release method according to manufacturer’s instructions, 10-20 or 10 minutes. Select CANCEL and open the lid. Garnish with cilantro and peanuts.

Crockpot method

1. Season and marinate the meat with salt, pepper, paprika, chopped ginger and garlic.
2. You can directly put the meat in the crock pot, or take the extra step to brown it first in an oiled pan searing 4-5 minutes per side. After browning, place it in the crock pot.
3. Sauté onions till golden brown along with ginger, garlic and jalapeno. Add this mixture over the meat. In a bowl, stir together tomato paste, tomato sauce, paprika, red chili flakes, chicken broth, peanut butter and salt. Pour this mixture over the meat and mix everything well.
4. Add in carrots or any other root vegetables you want. Cover and cook 4 hours on high or 7-8 on low for chicken. If using beef, cook 5-6 hours on high or 8-9 hours on low. Towards the last one and half hour you can add in bell peppers. Taste for seasoning and garnish with cilantro and peanuts.

Notes

1. For chicken, I recommend skinless dark meat. For beef, chuck, short ribs or oxtail work best.
2. Add in jalapeño according to how hot it is. They can vary greatly when it comes to heat. If you like a lot of kick, instead of jalapeño, you can use habanero or scotch bonnet peppers.
3. Different cuts of chicken will vary in cooking time. If you are using bone in chicken thighs, they should be cooked till the meat is fall of the bone tender.
4. Leftovers and Storing: Mafe is great when sitting in your refrigerator for a night or so, when all the flavors mingle together. You can store it for 3-4 days in your refrigerator or freeze it in an airtight container for up to a couple of months for future meals.

Nutrition Information

Yield 6 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 776Total Fat 62gSaturated Fat 11gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 45gCholesterol 157mgSodium 988mgCarbohydrates 11gFiber 2gSugar 4gProtein 46g

Nutrition information calculated by Nutritionix.

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Welcome to GypsyPlate! I'm Alpana, former wordwide tour manager and professional caterer, now full time blogger. I love exploring cuisines from around the world, and my recipes have been featured on sites such as MSN, Parade, Brit + Co, CNET and AOL. You can explore my entire collection of sortable recipes in my Recipe Index or learn more about me here.