Mafé (Senegalese Peanut Stew)
In short: Beef braised in a thick, savory peanut and tomato sauce with sweet potato, carrot and cabbage, then spooned over white rice. It takes about 2 h 15 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 1 h 50 min
- Total
- 2 h 15 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 730 kcal
Mafé is a thick, savory peanut stew eaten across West Africa, and Senegalese cooks make it with beef or lamb, tomato and plenty of vegetables. The peanut paste melts into the sauce and turns it creamy and slightly sweet, with a little chili for balance. Orange oil rising to the surface tells you it is ready. It is an easy weekend meal, served over rice, and it tastes even better the next day.
Instructions
- Season the beef with 1 teaspoon of the salt and the pepper. Heat the oil in a heavy pot over medium-high heat and brown the beef in two batches, 4 minutes per batch. Set it aside.
- Cook the onions in the same pot for 8 minutes until golden. Add the garlic for 1 minute, then the tomato paste for 2 minutes, stirring so it does not catch.
- Whisk the peanut butter with 500 ml (2 cups) of the warm water until smooth, then stir it into the pot with the rest of the water. This stops lumps from forming.
- Return the beef to the pot, add the chili and remaining salt, and bring to a gentle simmer. Cover partly and cook for 1 hour, stirring every 10 minutes so the bottom does not scorch.
- Add the carrots and sweet potato and simmer for 15 minutes. Lay the cabbage on top and cook another 15 minutes, until the beef is fork-tender and the vegetables are soft.
- Remove the chili, taste, and add salt or a squeeze of lime. The sauce should coat a spoon, with orange oil gathering at the edges.
- Serve over rice with lime wedges.
Tips
- Use natural peanut butter with only peanuts and salt. Sweetened or stabilized spreads make the sauce sugary and greasy.
- Chicken thighs can replace the beef. Brown them as in step 1 and cut the simmering time to about 35 minutes.
Questions and answers
Can I freeze mafé?
Yes, for up to 3 months. Freeze it without the cabbage, since cabbage turns watery, and thin the thawed sauce with a splash of hot water when reheating.
How is mafé different from other West African peanut soups?
Mafé is thicker and tomato-based, with big chunks of vegetables, and is eaten over rice. Peanut soups elsewhere in the region are often thinner and more peppery.
My peanut sauce is too thick. What should I do?
Stir in hot water, 60 ml (1/4 cup) at a time, until it coats a spoon. Peanut sauces thicken as they cool, so loosen leftovers the same way.
How long does it take to make Mafé (Senegalese Peanut Stew)?
About 2 h 15 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 1 h 50 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Mafé (Senegalese Peanut Stew)?
About 730 kcal per serving, with 41 g of protein, 72 g of carbohydrates and 31 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 730 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 41 g |
| Carbohydrates | 72 g |
| Fat | 31 g |
| Fiber | 9 g |
| Sugar | 14 g |
| Sodium | 850 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
