Easy and delicious west African peanut stew with spinach.

A love story…

Peanut stew, also known as Mafé and Tigadegué stew, is a pilar in the West African culinary arena. Declared as the national dish in Mali, and belonging to a Malian (mixed) household, it was only natural for a me to experience its glorious flavor from an early age. Indeed, it used to be my favorite dish (talk about brain washing). I soon found out that Mafé is popular in many West African countries (truly a sensation), and easily a favorite in most households. It is also approved by all of my friends and is always a hit at dinner parties.

Recipe tips for a flavorful authentic African peanut stew:

• Use quality ingredients: To guarantee an optimal flavor, use fresh and quality ingredients. Use natural peanut butter without additives.

• Smoked fish: Adding a bit of smoked fish in the peanut stew imparts an additional layer of flavor and complexity. I highly recommend this, but you can do without.

• Pepper: Scotch bonnet or hapañero peppers are widely used in West African cuisine. Its use perfumes/flavors any dish. Do not cook for too long or the pepper may puncture too much and make your dish too spicy. If you do not mind mild spiciness, just use 1 pepper and cook away! Use more if you would like.

• Meat size and browning: Cut your meat in 2 inches pieces, more or less, cubed. Larger pieces are fine too. You want to make sure that once water is added, all pieces are properly immersed which allows for a more efficient cooking process. When browning your meat, careful not to boil it. If water starts to emanate from your ingredients, increase the heat until evaporation, and brown for a bit. It’s almost like frying. This part is a bit tricky if you are new to this type of cuisine, but as long as you dont burn your ingredients it will be ok. Browning allows for deglazing, and a more flavorful dish, but its best to avoid any taste of burnt all together - let it boil away until evaporation and go on to the next step if easier.

• Adding peanut butter to stew: It is a bit tricky to incorporate peanut butter to a cooking stew. You could just add the butter directly and slowly break it down in the sauce while stirring, or mix 1/2 cup of water and 1 cup of peanut butter in a separate bowl prior to adding to stew. Once the peanut butter is added, it may stick to the bottom of your pan very easily. Therefore, you need to stir your stew, from time to time, while awaiting for the peanut butter to cook through.

• Greens: You can pre-cook your greens separately and incorporate in sauce prior to adding your peanut. You will barely taste the difference.

• Heating oil: Is your oil sufficiently hot? Add a small piece of onion and observe. The oil is sufficiently hot when you hear some sizzling.

Can I add greens and more veggies to the African peanut Stew?

Yes, the more the merrier! Take care to not overcrowd your pan and sauce. You could add in less peanut butter should you decide to add starchy elements like yellow potatoes. This sauce is so flavorful that non-veggie eaters will convert to veggie lovers at least this one time.

What kind of peanut butter should I use to make an African peanut butter stew?

Natural with no additives. Usually, oil will accumulate on top and you will need to mix the butter to incorporate both oily and dense phases. Just check this ingredients on the back label.

What is the best meat type to use for African peanut stew?

Tender and quality meat. You can use a wide range of meat types (chicken, lamb, beef, smoked fish) to make this dish. For a lamb - based peanut stew, shoulder cuts are a good choice (include the bones). Adding fat also enhances the flavor. It is a personal and health-based choice to include more fat to the dish. Adding lamb flanks is a great way to do so if using lamb or beef as your main protein of choice.

Can I replace tomato paste and fresh tomatoes with tomato puree?

Yes, you could use tomato puree (about 1.5 cups) or a simple marinara sauce (about 2 cups).

How do I make an African peanut stew vegan/vegetarian?

Just omit all meats and the smoked fish, and definitely add greens, squashes, yellow potatoes, sweet potatoes and, cabbage to your stew. The sweeter the veggies, the sweeter will your sauce be. Therefore, do not overdo it with the sweet potatoes. Since you are not using meat, you can simmer your tomato stew for 20 min and add your veggies at the point. Cook for an additional 20 min prior to adding peanut. Try to maintain veggies structure, especially the sweeter ones, while manipulating the sauce.