Amiwo (Beninese Red Cornmeal Paste with Chicken)
Local name: Amiwô
In short: Cornmeal stirred into a tomato and palm oil sauce until it forms a soft, orange-red paste, served with tender chicken and extra sauce. It takes about 1 h 45 min in total and makes 5 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 1 h 15 min
- Total
- 1 h 45 min
- Servings
- 5
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 530 kcal
Amiwo, also called pâte rouge or red paste, is a Beninese favorite: maize meal stirred into a tomato and palm oil sauce until it becomes a soft, orange-red paste with a rich savory flavor. It is served with fried or stewed chicken, fish or wagashi cheese and a little of the leftover sauce. Cooks stir it hard to keep it smooth, and it is eaten with the fingers.
Instructions
- Rub the chicken with half the garlic, the ginger, 1 teaspoon of the salt and the pepper.
- Heat the palm oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken for 4 minutes per side, then set it aside.
- Cook the onions in the same pot for 5 minutes. Add the remaining garlic and the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes.
- Add the blended tomatoes and chili and cook for 10 minutes, stirring, until the sauce is thick and the oil rises to the surface.
- Pour in the hot water and the remaining salt, return the chicken to the pot and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, until it reaches 74°C (165°F). Lift out the chicken and keep it warm. Remove the chili.
- Measure 650 ml (2 3/4 cups) of the sauce into a clean pot and keep the rest warm for serving. Bring the measured sauce to a gentle boil.
- Sprinkle the cornmeal in a thin stream over the sauce, stirring hard with a wooden spoon so no lumps form. Lower the heat.
- Cook for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring and pressing the paste against the pot, until it is smooth, stiff and pulls away from the sides.
- Shape the paste into mounds with a wet spoon. Serve with the chicken and the extra sauce.
Tips
- Add the cornmeal slowly with one hand while you stir with the other. Dumping it in at once makes lumps that are hard to remove.
- Fried fish, grilled fish or fried wagashi cheese are common alternatives to chicken. Fry fish separately and serve it on the side.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between amiwo and ugali?
Both are firm maize pastes, but amiwo is cooked in a seasoned tomato and palm oil sauce, so it is orange-red and savory rather than plain.
Can I make amiwo without palm oil?
Yes. Use vegetable oil with a teaspoon of sweet paprika for color. The flavor will be milder than with palm oil.
How do I reheat leftover amiwo?
Steam it or microwave it covered with a splash of water. It stiffens in the fridge, so slice and pan-fry it if you prefer.
How long does it take to make Amiwo (Beninese Red Cornmeal Paste with Chicken)?
About 1 h 45 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 1 h 15 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Amiwo (Beninese Red Cornmeal Paste with Chicken)?
About 530 kcal per serving, with 26 g of protein, 57 g of carbohydrates and 22 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 530 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 26 g |
| Carbohydrates | 57 g |
| Fat | 22 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 8 g |
| Sodium | 850 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
