Sweet Potato Chicken Mafé

Mafé, a delicious sauce dish made from peanut paste, is a traditional West African dish, particularly popular in Senegal and Mali. The origins of mafé are in Mali but its international reputation was popularized by Senegal. This gluten-free version twists the traditional recipe using only sweet potatoes, offering a balanced sweetness that pairs perfectly with the rich flavors of the sauce. Easy to prepare, this gluten-free dish is sure to appeal to fans of exotic cuisine.

Preparation time 20 mins

Cooking time 50 mins

Total time 1 hr 10 mins

Difficulty: beginner

Servings: 5

Ingredients

1 chicken, cut into pieces
2 medium sweet potatoes (about 400 g)
2 carrots, cut into slices
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, chopped
200 g of natural peanut paste (sugar and gluten free)
400 g crushed tomatoes (or 4 fresh tomatoes, peeled and blended)
500 ml chicken stock (gluten-free)
2 tbsp peanut oil or vegetable oil
1 tsp sweet paprika
1 tsp sweet pepper (optional, depending on taste)
Salt and pepper, according to your preferences
A few fresh coriander leaves for garnish

Preparation

1
Prepare the chicken: In a large Dutch oven or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium heat.
2
Brown the chicken thighs until nicely browned on each side (about 5 minutes per side). Remove and reserve.
3
Brown the vegetables: In the same casserole dish, add the chopped onion and chopped garlic. Sauté for 3 minutes until translucent.
4
Add the carrots and sweet potatoes. Mix and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
5
Prepare the sauce: Add the crushed tomatoes and paprika. Mix well to coat the vegetables. Add the peanut paste and stir until you obtain a smooth sauce.
6
Cook the mafé: Return the chicken to the casserole dish and pour in the chicken stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
7
Finalize the dish: Check the cooking of the sweet potatoes: they should be tender. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary.
8
Serve: Serve hot, accompanied by rice (I chose wholemeal red rice). Decorate with a few fresh coriander leaves.

Note

Mafé is often prepared with African eggplants: small, round, white eggplants. In Mali, this dish is often spicier.

Keywords: gluten -free chicken mafé, gluten -free African recipe, Senegalese recipe, Mali recipe, easy gluten -free dish, chicken and sweet potato recipe,