In brief
- Muamba de galinha is a chicken stew simmered in red palm oil, with gombo and vegetables
- Origin: Angola, where it is considered a national dish
- Essential ingredients: chicken, red palm oil, gombo, tomato, onion
- A family dish, served with cassava funge or rice
Origins and cultural history of muamba de galinha
Muamba de galinha is a chicken stew made with red palm oil, considered by many Angolans to be the country's national dish. It belongs to the same family as Congolese chicken moambe from the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo, cooked with the same palm oil, but sets itself apart by adding gombo and a squash, two vegetables that give the dish its thickened texture and its colour.
The traditional preparation started from fresh palm nuts, cooked then pressed to extract the red oil; today it is also made from shop-bought palm oil. The dish travels with the Angolan diaspora, notably in Portugal and France.
What are the essential ingredients of muamba de galinha
Muamba de galinha is made with few ingredients, found in an African and Caribbean grocery store, including NKOSI.
- chicken
- red palm oil
- fresh gombo
- tomato and onion
- chilli
- garlic
- paprika
What to know about muamba de galinha
Muamba de galinha is a chicken stew simmered in red palm oil, with okra, tomato and onion. Many Angolans consider it the national dish of the country. The okra and the squash give the dish its thick, bound texture and its color, and it is served with cassava funge or rice.
Frequently asked questions about muamba de galinha
Is gombo essential in muamba de galinha?
Gombo gives this stew its characteristic slightly thickened texture and appears in reference Angolan recipes. It can be reduced in quantity for a less thick sauce, but it is one of the dish's essential ingredients.
What can replace red palm oil in this recipe?
Red palm oil gives muamba de galinha its characteristic colour and flavour; a neutral oil changes the dish's colour and aroma, which then loses part of its identity.
Where to find the ingredients for muamba de galinha in France?
NKOSI sells the red palm oil, paprika and other dry ingredients for this recipe 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 €.
