Mafe (Maafe) - Senegalese Peanut Stew

Mafe (or Maafe) is a popular West African peanut stew made in a spicy, creamy peanut and tomato sauce. This special dish is so mouthwatering and appetizing that you would not be able to get enough of it! This is African food at its best.

❤️ Why You'll Love It

Many variations of peanut butter stew are eaten in different countries on the west coast of Africa, and it goes by different names. In Gambia, peanut stew is made with squash or sweet potatoes and is known as Domoda.

In Nigeria, it is called Groundnut Soup and is usually eaten with fufu or rice. One thing is certain - Maafe is a staple food in African cuisine. 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!

This popular West African stew is gluten-free, keto-friendly, and dairy-free. 

🧾 Ingredients

Many variations of African peanut stew are made in different African countries, but it is so easy to make this dish your own.

• Beef: You can use beef, lamb, chicken, or any meat of choice. You can even leave it out entirely for a vegan or vegetarian stew option.
• Peanut butter: A peanut stew won't be complete without this. Store-bought peanut butter is a good choice or you can use roasted ground peanuts as West Africans do it for a more authentic version.
• Vegetables: The most common vegetables for the stew are onions, red 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: You can use chicken broth, vegetable stock, or any other stock/broth. If you don't have any on hand, just use water but add more spices.
• Olive oil: to sauté the meat and vegetables.

🔪 How To Make This Recipe

1. Wash the beef and cut it into smaller pieces using a sharp knife. 
2. Heat some olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. You can use a stew pot, dutch oven, or any other pot you like.
3. When it gets hot, add the beef, black pepper, and a pinch of salt, and sauté till the meat turns golden brown. This can take anywhere from 8 to 10 minutes. Depending on the size of your pot, you may have to do this in batches.
4. The next step is to chop the onions and bell pepper and add them to the meat. Stir and saute onions and peppers for a couple of minutes.
5. Add the tomato paste and stir a little bit until it dissolves and is mixed in. Turn the heat down a bit and cook for about 5 minutes.
6. 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.
7. Bring everything to a boil and cook for five more minutes on high heat. Add the peanut butter and stir till it is dissolved.
8. 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.

🥫 Storing And Reheating

This peanut stew keeps well in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days. You can also freeze it for 2-3 months. To reheat, simply heat in a pot on the stovetop with a little water.

💭 Tips And Variations

• 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 or also add red chili flakes. 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!

What To Eat Maafe With?

This delicious African stew is most commonly eaten with rice. For a low-carb option, I serve my Maafe with cauliflower rice.

📚 Related Recipes

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)

📖 Recipe