Daraba (Chadian Okra and Peanut Stew)
In short: Beef, okra, sweet potato and greens simmered in a thick peanut and tomato sauce, then ladled over boule or rice. A Chadian family stew. It takes about 2 h in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 1 h 30 min
- Total
- 2 h
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 385 kcal
Daraba is one of the most common home stews in Chad. Okra, tomato, sweet potato and leafy greens are cooked with beef or goat in a sauce thickened with ground peanuts, so it turns rich, nutty and slightly silky. It is traditionally ladled over boule, the stiff millet porridge, and eaten by hand. Rice works well too. The dish is filling, cheap and made in big pots for families and gatherings.
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Brown the beef in 2 batches for about 8 minutes, then add the onions and cook for 6 minutes.
- Add the garlic and tomato paste for 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and cook for 6 minutes until they break down.
- Pour in the water, add the salt and whole chili, and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes until the beef is nearly tender.
- Add the sweet potato and simmer for 12 minutes, then add the okra.
- Whisk the peanut butter with a ladleful of hot broth in a bowl until smooth, then stir it into the pot. Simmer for 12 minutes, stirring now and then, until the stew is thick and the okra is tender.
- Stir in the spinach and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until wilted. Taste for salt, remove the chili and serve hot over boule or rice.
Tips
- Dissolve the peanut butter in broth before adding it, or it clumps. Use natural peanut butter with no sugar.
- Frozen sliced okra works well and saves time. Add it directly from the freezer. Goat is traditional, but needs an extra 30 minutes of simmering.
Questions and answers
Is daraba slimy?
A little, because of the okra, which gives the sauce a silky body. Cooking the okra whole or in thick slices reduces the effect.
What do you eat daraba with?
Boule is traditional. Rice, sweet potato or cassava are good alternatives.
Can I make it vegetarian?
Yes. Leave out the beef, use vegetable stock and add chickpeas or extra sweet potato. Reduce the first simmer to 15 minutes.
How long does it take to make Daraba (Chadian Okra and Peanut Stew)?
About 2 h in total: 30 min of preparation and 1 h 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Daraba (Chadian Okra and Peanut Stew)?
About 385 kcal per serving, with 23 g of protein, 25 g of carbohydrates and 22 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 385 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 23 g |
| Carbohydrates | 25 g |
| Fat | 22 g |
| Fiber | 6 g |
| Sugar | 9 g |
| Sodium | 760 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
