African Peanut Sweet Potato Stew

Total Time

Prep: 20 min. Cook: 6 hours

Makes

8 servings (2-1/2 quarts)

Updated: Jan. 03, 2024
Back when I was in college, my mom made an addicting sweet potato and peanut stew. I shared it with friends, and now all of us serve it to our own kids. They all love it, of course. —Alexis Scatchell, Niles, Illinois
African Peanut Sweet Potato Stew Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
  • 1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
  • 3 garlic cloves, halved
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 3 pounds sweet potatoes (about 6 medium), peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 can (15 ounces) garbanzo beans or chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup water
  • 8 cups chopped fresh kale
  • Optional: Chopped peanuts and additional cilantro leaves

Directions

  1. Place the first 8 ingredients in a food processor; process until pureed. Transfer to a 5-qt. slow cooker; stir in sweet potatoes, beans and water.
  2. Cook, covered, on low 6-8 hours or until potatoes are tender, adding kale during the last 30 minutes. If desired, top each serving with chopped peanuts and additional cilantro.

African Peanut Stew Tips

Where is peanut stew from?

Peanut stew, also called maafe or domodah, originated in western Africa. An original dish of the Mandinka and Bambara people of Mali, peanut stew shows up in different variations in cuisines of both western and central Africa.

What else could I add to this African peanut stew?

Traditional, authentic meats that you can add to African peanut stew include lamb, chicken or beef—and even occasionally fish or hard-boiled eggs.

What other African-inspired dishes can I try?

If you enjoy the flavors of this stew, try some of our other African-inspired recipes, such as African Beef Curry, West African Shrimp, North African Chicken and Rice or West African Chicken Stew.

Research contributed by Mark Neufang, Taste of Home Culinary Assistant

Nutrition Facts

1-1/4 cups: 349 calories, 9g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 624mg sodium, 60g carbohydrate (23g sugars, 11g fiber), 10g protein.