Ebinyebwa (Ugandan Groundnut Sauce)
In short: Roasted groundnuts ground and simmered with onion and tomato into a thick, nutty sauce. Uganda's all-purpose partner for matooke, cassava and sweet potato. It takes about 1 h 5 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 45 min
- Total
- 1 h 5 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 320 kcal
Ebinyebwa, the groundnut sauce, is the everyday partner of Ugandan starches. Roasted peanuts are ground to a paste and simmered gently with onion and tomato until the oil rises and the sauce turns thick and golden brown. It is spooned over matooke, boiled cassava, sweet potato and posho, and it also works as a base for stews with vegetables or mushrooms.
Instructions
- Toast the peanuts in a dry heavy pan over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring constantly, until fragrant and golden. Tip them onto a tray to cool, then rub off most of the skins.
- Grind the peanuts in a mortar or food processor to a fine, slightly oily powder, stopping before it turns into butter.
- Stir the ground peanuts with 250 ml (1 cup) of the hot water into a smooth, thick paste.
- Heat the oil in a pot and cook the onion for 5 minutes until soft. Add the tomatoes and carrot and cook for 5 minutes, until pulpy.
- Stir in the peanut paste, the remaining 500 ml (2 cups) of hot water and the salt. Simmer over low heat for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring often, until the sauce is thick and oil gathers on the surface.
- Taste and adjust the salt. Serve hot over matooke, sweet potato, cassava or posho.
Tips
- Stir often and keep the heat low. Peanut sauce catches and burns on the bottom easily, which makes it bitter.
- Short on time? Replace the peanuts with 200 g (3/4 cup) of smooth unsweetened peanut butter whisked into the hot water. The flavor is a little less deep but still good.
Questions and answers
What do you eat with ebinyebwa?
Matooke, boiled cassava, sweet potato, posho and rice. It is also poured over greens or cooked with mushrooms or other vegetables.
Is groundnut sauce the same as peanut sauce?
Groundnuts are peanuts. The Ugandan sauce is unsweetened and savory, built on onion and tomato, unlike the sweet or very spicy peanut sauces served as dips elsewhere.
Can I freeze it?
Yes. Cool the sauce and freeze for up to 3 months. It thickens as it chills, so thin it with hot water when reheating.
How long does it take to make Ebinyebwa (Ugandan Groundnut Sauce)?
About 1 h 5 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 45 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Ebinyebwa (Ugandan Groundnut Sauce)?
About 320 kcal per serving, with 13 g of protein, 10 g of carbohydrates and 27 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 320 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 13 g |
| Carbohydrates | 10 g |
| Fat | 27 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 200 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
