Malinese Chicken and Peanut Stew (Maafe)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup peanut oil

3 white or yellow onions, diced

1 whole chicken, cut into serving pieces, rinsed and patted dry

Salt

2 fresh red chiles, minced

4 tomatoes blanched, peeled, and diced

2 tablespoons tomato paste blended with 1/4 cup cold water

6 cups boiling water

1 cup peanut paste or peanut butter

8 okra pods, topped and tailed

2 sweet potatoes or yams, peeled and cut into 2-inch cubes

1 cup corn kernels

4 carrots, peeled and each cut into 4 to 6 chunks

1/4 bunch spinach

1/2 cup sliced parsnips or other firm, root vegetable

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika

Cooking Instructions:

Heat the peanut oil in a large, heavy-based pot, and saute the onions and the chicken pieces (seasoned with salt) until the chicken is sealed and browned. Stir in the chiles, tomatoes, and tomato paste. Blend the boiling water and peanut paste together until the mixture is smooth, and add it to the pot. Stir and simmer for 40 minutes. Add the okra, sweet potatoes, corn, carrots, spinach, parsnips or other root vegetables, cinnamon, and paprika. Season with some salt. Stir well and simmer gently on low heat until the chicken is cooked, the volume reduced, and the sauce thick. Serve hot.

#mali #chicken #peanut #stew #okra