West African Peanut Stew | Step by Step

Let’s get real, this time of the year is the best time for soups and stews. Especially if you’re like me and made the irrational decision to live in the cold North. Where the winters are dark, long and oh so cold.

It’s like a 4-5 months long Fargo episode.

So, if you are experiencing the winter blues, then allow me to help. I will show you how to make this African Peanut Stew. This dish has sunshine written all over it and hopefully it will bring some comfort to you, my friend.

What makes a West African Peanut Stew?

This dish is a delicacy.  A true joy to eat and share. The main ingredient of course is peanuts, or in our case peanut butter. The main protein is chicken. And as far as veggies go, we’re going to be using quite a variety of them.

Sweet potatoes : the main veggie of this dish. They help balance the spiciness of the dish and are loaded with vitamin A and other critical micro nutrients. Peel them, cut into chunks and set aside.

Onions, because it wouldn’t be a real stew without them.

Crushed Tomatoes to build up the sauce and add more flavour and acidity.

Coriander for an added dose of freshness.

Lemongrass, to me at least is an absolute must for this dish. It adds a lemony, fresh taste to the dish that is just irreplaceable.

Fresh minced ginger.

There are of course more ingredients than this (they are all listed in the recipe card), but these are the main stars of this stew.

Step By Step Instructions

Heat up a large pot on medium high heat, add your olive oil in. Add in your chicken thighs and brown them on each side. Remove your chicken thighs and place on a cooling rack, or paper towel.

Add your minced onions and ginger. Cook for 3-4 minutes, then add in your garlic. Cook for another minute and add in your sweet potatoes. Cover your veggies with chicken stock. Add in your tomato sauce, peanut butter and peanuts.

Roughly chop your chicken thighs and add them back to the pot. Lower the heat, cover with a lid, and let it simmer for about 25-30 minutes, or until the potatoes are very soft and the chicken is thoroughly cooked.

Serving suggestion: Serve with some fresh coriander, a dash of hot sauce, a sprinkle of roasted peanuts and a fresh squeeze of lime. As far as sides go, you can never go wrong with basmati rice or flat bread to scoop up that delicious sauce.

What a treat!

Possible Substitutions

Chicken drumsticks: It’s a good choice for this dish. If you don’t mind the hassle of eating around chickens bones and skin.

Sweet Potatoes: You can substitute these with regular old taters.

Chicken Broth: If you don’t have on hand, you can use any other kind of broth. It will work very well.

African Peanut Stew Recipe