Chicken Mafe Recipes

CHICKEN MAFE

Steps:

• Finely mince 6 cloves garlic and the ginger with a pinch of salt, plenty of black pepper and crushed red-pepper flakes to taste. Season chicken all over with salt, and rub with the garlic mixture. Marinate for three hours or overnight, refrigerated.
• Finely chop the remaining 6 cloves of garlic. In a large Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium-high heat. When it is hot, add the onion, chopped garlic, 2 teaspoons kosher salt and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes, until the onion is starting to become translucent. Stir in the fish sauce, then the tomato paste, and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes, until the paste and onions have combined and are a shade darker. Stir in 6 cups water, scraping up any browned bits.
• Add the chicken, bring to a boil and turn heat down to a moderate simmer. In a mixing bowl, stir a cup of the cooking liquid into the peanut butter, a splash at a time, to loosen it. Pour the peanut butter mixture into the pot, and simmer for 20 minutes. Add the cabbage and carrots, and simmer 10 minutes. Peel and cut the sweet potato and waxy potatoes into 1 1/2-inch chunks, add them and simmer 30 minutes, until the vegetables and chicken are tender and the sauce is like a very thick gravy. (The oil will be separating in the sauce.) If the chicken and vegetables are tender but the sauce is still a little loose, remove them, and let the sauce cook down. Add the chile if using. Taste, adjust seasoning with salt and serve over white rice.

CHICKEN AND VEGETABLE STEW IN PEANUT BUTTER TOMATO SAUCE: MAFE

Steps:

• In a large pot, heat oil until hot and brown chicken pieces on all sides. Remove chicken temporarily.
• In the same frying pan, add the onions and stir until soft and slightly brown. Add the tomato paste and salt, and stir well.
• Add all the prepared vegetables and fish sauce to the pot. Return the chicken to the pot and add just enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, stir, and reduce heat to medium. Simmer for approximately 30 minutes. Check the vegetables to avoid overcooking, removing them in a bowl as they are done.
• When all the vegetables are cooked and removed from the stew, add the peanut butter or "tigadege", 1 tablespoon at a time to make sure it is well dissolved in the broth. Add the Scotch bonnet pepper, if using and simmer until broth thickens, about 20 to 30 minutes.
• Return all the vegetables to the pot and simmer 5 minutes more. Serve over white rice.

MAFé

Steps:

• If you are using peanuts: Remove the peanuts' shells, roast the peanuts on a baking sheet in a hot oven, or in a large skillet on the stove, stirring often, then remove the skins. Crush peanuts with a potato-masher or with a mortar and pestle.
• Heat enough oil for pan frying in a large cooking pot or dutch oven. Sauté the meat and onions over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for a few minutes.
• Add all remaining ingredients except the peanut butter and water. Simmer until all ingredients are tender (maybe 30 minutes). Add water if it becomes completely dry.
• Reduce heat. Add the peanut butter. Stir. Add water or beef broth as needed to make a smooth sauce.

SENEGALESE MAFE

Steps:

• Season chicken and brown in oil in a large heavy pot. Add onions and tomatoes. In separate pot heat chicken stock and whisk in tomato paste. Thin peanut butter slightly with hot liquid and add all liquids to pot with chicken. Reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes. Add vegetables and cook until chicken and vegetables are tender, approximately 45 minutes. Season to taste with salt, cayenne and ground white pepper. Garnish with peanuts.

MAAFé

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy saucepan, add the onion, and cook over medium heat until it is translucent.
• Add the meat and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until it is lightly browned on all sides.
• In a small bowl, mix the peanut butter with 1-½ cup (400 ml) of cold water and pour it over the meat.
• Dilute the tomato paste with 2 cups (500 ml) of hot water, and pour over the stew. Stir well.
• Add the remaining ingredients and lower the heat. Cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour, or until the meat is tender.
• Remove the thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Serve hot over white rice.