A rich, velvety stew of beef simmered in a thick peanut sauce with tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and okra. This hearty West African classic is a cornerstone of Mauritanian home cooking, served over fluffy white rice.
Ingredients
500g beef chuck, cubed
4 tbsp natural peanut butter
2 onions, diced
3 tomatoes, chopped
2 sweet potatoes, cubed
200g okra, sliced
2 tbsp tomato paste
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 scotch bonnet pepper
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp salt
4 cups water
White rice for serving
Instructions
1Brown beef cubes in oil in a heavy pot over high heat until deeply caramelized on all sides. Remove and set aside.
2Saute diced onions in the same pot until golden, then add garlic and tomato paste, stirring for two minutes.
3Return beef to pot, add chopped tomatoes, peanut butter, water, and whole scotch bonnet. Stir to dissolve peanut butter.
4Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 45 minutes until beef is tender.
5Add sweet potato cubes and okra, simmer another 20 minutes until vegetables are cooked through and sauce has thickened.
6Serve ladled over steamed white rice with the scotch bonnet on the side for those who want extra heat.
Did You Know?
Maafe is so beloved that families often judge a new bride by the quality of her peanut stew.