In brief
- Chicken mafé: chicken stew simmered in a peanut sauce, served with white rice.
- Origin: Mandinka and Bambara peoples of Mali, also very common in Senegal.
- Essential ingredients: chicken, peanut paste, tomato paste, onion, garlic, vegetables.
- A shared family dish, served at everyday meals as well as on special occasions.
Origins and cultural history of chicken mafé
Mafé originated in Mali, among the Mandinka and Bambara peoples, who also call it tigadegena, “peanut sauce” in Bambara, or domoda in Mandinka. Before peanuts arrived in West Africa, brought in the 16th century by Portuguese and Spanish traders, Malian cooks prepared a comparable sauce based on Bambara groundnuts.
The dish then spread throughout West Africa, particularly in Senegal, where it is among the most widely eaten dishes, as well as in the Gambia, where it is called domoda, in Mauritania and in Ivory Coast. The meat used varies by family: beef, lamb, fish or chicken, the latter being a common variant of Senegalese and Malian cuisine.
What are the essential ingredients of chicken mafé
The base of chicken mafé stays the same as for the other versions: poultry simmered for a long time in a peanut and tomato sauce. The vegetables that go with it vary by family and by season.
- chicken, preferably bone-in pieces
- peanut paste
- tomato paste
- onion and garlic
- vegetables: carrot, sweet potato
- chilli
What to know about chicken mafé
Chicken mafé is a stew of chicken, preferably bone-in pieces, simmered slowly in a sauce of peanut paste and tomato paste, with onion, garlic, carrot, sweet potato and chili pepper. It is served with white rice. A shared family dish, it is made for everyday meals as well as for big occasions.
Frequently asked questions about chicken mafé
What is the difference between mafé and domoda?
No real difference: mafé is the name given in Senegal and Mali to this peanut sauce stew, while domoda is the name used in the Gambia for the same type of dish, inherited from the same Mandinka and Bambara peoples. The ingredients and the preparation method are very similar.
Can mafé be made with beef instead of chicken?
Yes, mafé is traditionally made with beef, lamb or fish, just as with chicken: only the meat changes, the peanut sauce and the simmered cooking stay the same.
Where to find the ingredients for chicken mafé in France?
NKOSI sells peanut paste, tomato paste and other dry mafé products, and ships them from the Paris area within 24 to 72 working hours, to mainland France (2 to 3 working days) and to ten European countries. The minimum order is 39 €: in France, delivery to a pickup point is then free, and home delivery is free from 69 €.
