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    Home » African Keto Recipes » Mafe (Maafe) - Senegalese Peanut Stew

    Jul 6, 2020

    Mafe (Maafe) - Senegalese Peanut Stew

    Published on Jul 6, 2020. Updated on Mar 8, 2022. By Tayo. This post may contain affiliate links. See Disclosure. 56 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    pinterest image for Mafe peanut butter stew

    Mafe (or Maafe) is a popular African peanut stew made in a spicy, creamy peanut and tomato sauce. This is one mouthwatering and appetizing dish you would not be able to get enough of!

    Many different variations of peanut butter stew are eaten in various West African countries. In the Gambia, peanut stew is made with squash or sweet potatoes and is known as Domoda. In Nigeria, it is called Groundnut Stew and is usually eaten with fufu or rice.

    For a low-carb option, I serve my Mafe with cauliflower rice. This peanut stew is gluten-free, keto-friendly, and dairy-free. 

    It has so many complex and bold flavors that will leave you wanting more. And I make mine in just one pot so there is less clean-up!

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    Ingredients used to make African peanut stew

    ingredients used in making Mafe, African peanut stew

    There are different variations when making Mafe, and it is so easy to make the dish your own.

    Here are the ingredients I use for a quick and simple version of this peanut stew.

    • Beef: You can use beef, lamb, chicken, or any meat of choice. You can even leave it out entirely for a vegetarian or vegan option.
    • Peanut butter: A peanut stew won't be complete without this. You can use store-bought peanut butter or you can roast and blend the raw peanuts for a more authentic taste.
    • Vegetables: Onions, red bell pepper, and tomato paste. I use tomato paste rather than tomatoes because it has a sharper taste and gives more richness to the peanut butter stew. You can add as many vegetables as you want, but I like to keep it simple.
    • Spices: bouillon, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and salt.
    • Water and stock/broth: If you don't have stock on hand, just use water but add more spices.
    • Olive oil: to sauté the meat and vegetables.
    closeup shot of Mafe (Maffe)

    How to make this recipe

    Wash the beef and cut them into smaller pieces. Pour some olive oil into a pan on medium heat.

    When it gets hot, add the beef, ½ teaspoon of black pepper, and a pinch of salt, and sauté till the meat is browned. This can take anywhere from 8 to 10 minutes.

    Depending on the size of your pot, you may have to do this in batches.

    Chop the onions and bell pepper and add them to the meat. Stir and let it sauté for a few minutes.

    how to make peanut butter stew

    Add the tomato paste and stir till it dissolves and is mixed in. Turn the heat down a bit lower and cook for about 5 minutes.

    Add water, stock, bouillon, cayenne pepper, and salt to taste. If you use stock, remember to add the salt last, so you don't add too much.

    Bring everything to a boil and cook for 5 more minutes on high heat. Add the peanut butter and stir till it is dissolved.

    how to make African peanut butter stew

    Let it cook till it thickens, roughly 2-5 minutes. If you used chicken, lamb, or another choice of meat, you might have to let it cook longer until the meat is cooked through.

    Serve with cauliflower rice and enjoy!

    This recipe serves 6 and contains 6 net carbs per serving. It keeps well in the fridge for up to 5 days.

    Mafe (Maafe) served with cauliflower rice

    Tips when making African Peanut Stew

    • If you use beef for your peanut stew, cut it into smaller pieces before sautéing, to cut down on your cooking time.
    • You can adjust the cayenne pepper to your desired preference. To increase the heat, add a whole habanero pepper after adding the stock.
    • After adding the peanut butter, you can add a little water if the stew is too thick.
    • If you prefer chicken, try this African chicken peanut stew. So delicious!

    Enjoy these delicious low carb African dishes!

    Nigerian Beef Stew

    Efo Riro (Nigerian Spinach Stew)

    African Fish Stew

    Sukuma Wiki (Kenyan Collard Greens)

    Fumbwa (Congolese Spinach Stew)

    African peanut butter stew
    Mafe, senegalese peanut stew served with rice

    Mafe/Maafe (Senegalese Peanut Stew)

    Mafe (or Maafe) is an authentic African peanut stew made in a spicy, creamy peanut and tomato sauce. This is one mouthwatering and appetizing dish you would not be able to get enough of!
    4.95 from 36 votes
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    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: African
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 443kcal
    Author: Tayo Oredola
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    Ingredients

    • 2 lbs stew beef
    • ½ cup peanut butter
    • 1 red bell pepper
    • 2 tablespoon tomato paste
    • 1 onion
    • 1 tablespoon bouillon powder
    • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon salt to taste
    • 1 teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 cup water
    • 2 cups stock/broth

    Instructions

    • Wash beef and cut into smaller pieces.
    • Pour olive oil into a pan on medium heat.
    • Add beef, ½ teaspoon of black pepper, and a pinch of salt, and saute for 8-10 minutes.
    • Chop the onions and bell pepper.
    • Add onions and red bell pepper and saute for 3 minutes.
    • Add tomato paste and stir.
    • Cook for about 5 minutes.
    • Add water, stock, and bouillon, cayenne pepper and salt to taste.
    • Bring to a boil and cook for 5 more minutes.
    • Add peanut butter and stir till it is dissolved.
    • Let it cook till it thickens, roughly 2-5 minutes.
    • Serve with cauliflower rice and enjoy!

    Notes

    This recipe serves 6 and contains 6 net carbs per serving.
    • If you use beef for your peanut stew, cut it into smaller pieces before sautéing, to cut down on your cooking time.
    • You can adjust the cayenne pepper to your desired preference. To increase the heat, add a whole habanero pepper after adding the stock.
    • After adding the peanut butter, you can add a little water if the stew is too thick.
    • If you prefer chicken, try this African chicken peanut stew. So delicious!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 443kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 812mg | Potassium: 744mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 827IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 3mg
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Megan says

      September 01, 2022 at 9:37 am

      4 stars
      I followed the recipe exactly and next time would not add the cup of water because it was more like a curry than what the photos look like. The taste was good though

      Reply
      • Tayo says

        September 04, 2022 at 2:32 pm

        Yes, it will work well with very little or no water. Thanks for stopping by!

        Reply
    2. Katie says

      August 14, 2022 at 1:06 pm

      This looks delicious! I’d like to try this recipe. I’m just wondering - It looks like the dish was topped with an herb in the picture. Is that parsley or cilantro? Thanks for sharing this recipe!

      Reply
      • Tayo says

        August 16, 2022 at 8:38 pm

        I've used both in the past, so you can't go wrong with either.

        Reply
    3. June Middleton says

      July 14, 2022 at 8:52 am

      I will be making this dish for an upcoming event this weekend but need to make it for a serving size double what this recipe says (6)...need it to serve 12 minimally. Don't think doubling all the ingredients would work, would it? What would you recommend?

      Reply
      • Tayo says

        July 14, 2022 at 9:22 am

        Hi June, yes you can double the ingredients. But don't double the salt or cayenne pepper till you taste it first, to be sure it's not too salty or too spicy.

        Reply
    4. Tina says

      June 08, 2022 at 5:47 am

      The first direction is to "wash beef." I don't think I've ever read an instruction like that. Can you tell me the reason and how you would do that? Just rinse it with water or actually wash it?

      Reply
      • Tayo says

        June 23, 2022 at 9:16 pm

        I meant to rinse with water.

        Reply
        • Tina says

          June 27, 2022 at 3:13 pm

          I'm making it tonight. I'll let you know how it turns out.

          Reply
        • Tina says

          June 28, 2022 at 5:40 am

          5 stars
          Very tasty! I did make a couple of changes, one out of necessity the other for personal preference. First, no tomato paste. I *always* have tomato paste except for this time. Subbed with about 1/3 cup of tomato sauce and some chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Secondly, I like my food spicier so after tasting the stew with the recommended amount of cayenne and feeling it needed more I added some Calabrian chili flakes to the mix. Total deliciousness. I don't often repeat recipes but this one is a keeper. Thank you for sharing!

          Reply
          • Tayo says

            July 12, 2022 at 12:32 pm

            I'm glad the substitutions worked out great! 🙂

    5. Joyce says

      March 12, 2022 at 1:49 am

      This looks similar to a recipe I have from the Central African Republic -- which I currently can't find, but want to make and just came across yours. The one I had used Tabasco Sauce instead of cayenne pepper -- and no bell pepper. Will use yours with those two adaptations on Monday -- and hope it turns out well.

      Reply
      • Tayo says

        March 15, 2022 at 12:46 pm

        Let me know how it turns out!

        Reply
    6. Kat says

      February 21, 2022 at 9:11 pm

      5 stars
      Made this for dinner, except no red peppers so used zucchini instead, absolutely delicious! I saw someone make Maafe on Beat Bobby Flay and it sounded awesome. Found your recipe and it was even better than I imagined. Loved it, thank you! Will definitely do more of your recipes.

      Reply
      • Tayo says

        February 28, 2022 at 8:27 am

        I'm glad you enjoyed it, Kat. I like the addition of zucchini!

        Reply
    7. Tami says

      February 07, 2022 at 2:18 am

      5 stars
      This recipes is amazing! We were literally licking our bowls. I can't wait to try different variations - maybe a vegetarian version with mushrooms? I can't wait to try more of your recipes!

      Reply
    8. Sarah says

      January 15, 2022 at 8:11 am

      I tried mafe with lamb recently for the first time and loved it so much I wanted to try it at home. Sadly, my partner is allergic to groundnuts and I’m having a hard time finding recipes with a peanut butter substitute. Thoughts on using sunflower butter, or other alternates?

      Reply
      • Tayo says

        January 17, 2022 at 6:29 pm

        I haven't tried but I think sunflower butter might work. Let me know if you try it!

        Reply
    9. Cheyenne says

      October 27, 2021 at 3:49 pm

      5 stars
      Made this tonight, so delicious! Boyfriend loved it too. Thank you for the recipe, I will definitely be using it again

      Reply
      • Tayo says

        October 27, 2021 at 10:07 pm

        You're so welcome, Cheyenne!

        Reply
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