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Spicy Chicken and Peanut Stew

17/11/2023

The chicken and peanut stew is a dish found in various African cuisines, where it’s known as “Chicken Groundnut Stew” or “Mafé”. It’s a rich and flavorful dish, with a peanut cream that makes it particularly comforting. Now, I will propose a version of this dish with an Italian touch.

Ingredients

  • 600 g boneless and skinless chicken thighs
  • 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves of garlic, chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 400 g of canned peeled tomatoes, crushed
  • 2 tablespoons of tomato paste
  • 500 ml of chicken broth
  • 160 g of creamy peanut butter
  • 1 teaspoon of sweet paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (adjust according to spicy tolerance)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 handful of fresh chopped cilantro (optional)

To make the dish closer to the Italian tradition, you could also add some fresh basil leaves for garnishing.

Preparation

  1. In a large pot, heat the extra virgin olive oil and brown the chicken thighs until golden on all sides. Then remove them and set aside.
  2. In the same pot, add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent. Add the garlic and red bell pepper and cook for a few minutes until the pepper starts to soften.
  3. Add the crushed peeled tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken broth, sweet paprika, and cayenne pepper. Bring everything to a boil and stir well.
  4. Stir in the peanut butter into the sauce, reduce heat, and let simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  5. Return the chicken to the pot, cover and let it stew for about 30 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked and the sauce has reached the desired consistency. Adjust salt and pepper.
  6. If desired, add the chopped cilantro (and basil if chosen) just before removing the dish from the heat.
  7. Serve the stew accompanied with white rice or couscous.

Curiosity

This stew is a quite nutritious dish, and the use of peanut butter gives it a unique flavor and a velvety texture. In West Africa, every country has its version of this dish, which is often customized with local spices and different types of meat. In proposing it with an Italian touch, you could experiment with adds herbs such as rosemary or bay leaves to enhance its aromatic bouquet.

Spicy Chicken and Peanut Stew