How to Make Mafe for Kwanzaa

Mafe is a peanut butter stew that is made throughout West Africa. It uses available fresh vegetables, such as cabbage, eggplant and okra. It is also served a part of many Kwanzaa feasts, which celebrates the bounty of the first fruits of the harvest that African countries have celebrated for centuries.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 cups cooked rice
• Dutch oven or large pot
• One 8 oz. can of tomato sauce
• 1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
• One small green cabbage chopped into quarters or eighths
• Small bowl
• 1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut into small chunks
• 3 tbsp. of olive oil
• 1 chicken bullion cube
• Two tbsp. of tomato paste
• 1 Large green pepper, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter
• Food processor or blender
• 1 tsp. of salt
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/2 to 1 tsp. each of red and black pepper
• 1 clove garlic, chopped coarsely
• One 16 oz. can of chicken broth
• 6 large chicken thighs (washed and with extra skin and fat removed)

Make Mafe For Kwanzaa

1. Make a spice rub using the salt and red and black peppers. Make sure to mix well and set aside.

2. Rub the chicken thighs with about half the spice mix and let sit for at least 30 minutes.

3. Chop the onions, garlic and bell pepper in a food processor until coarsely chopped.

4. Heat the oil until it has completely spread around the pot and then reduce heat to medium. Add the rest of the spice rub and stir until it has browned. This should take no longer than 30 seconds.

5. Place the chicken in the oil and cook until the chicken thighs have turned a light golden brown color.

6. Remove the pot from heat and stir in onion mixture, chicken broth, bullion cube, tomato sauce and enough water to cover chicken.

7. Return pot to heat and bring to a boil. Turn down to a simmer and cover pot.

8. Cut the cabbage lengthwise, but do not core. Then cut into about 6 to 8 palm-sized pieces, but do not separate leaves. Place pieces in the stew.

9. Simmer until the chicken begins to fall from the bone, approximately 45 minutes.

10. Take chicken out of the pot and remove the meat from the bone and then replace in stew.

11. Combine the peanut butter and a 1/4 cup of broth in the bowl and whisk it until it is smooth, then pour into stew pot.

12. Put the sweet potatoes in the stew and simmer on low until the oil in the peanut butter has risen to the top. This will take about 30 minutes. Stir often to prevent burning.

13. Serve the stew over the cooked rice, with chicken and vegetables piled on top.

Tips & Warnings

• Mafe is a great dish for Kwanzaa since the recipe can be easily doubled to feed many people.
• Be sure to wash and remove the tough leaves on the outside of your cabbage, taking care not to remove the core.