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An incredibly rich and delicious African peanut stew, this Domoda recipe tastes even better the next day! Domoda is the nationao dish of Gambia and deservedly so because it is so flavorful and delicious!
What is Domoda?
Domoda is the national dish of Gambia. It is a delicious “groundnut stew” (peanuts) consisting of whatever vegetable happens to be available, typically pumpkin or sweet potatoes, and a saucy base. Whether vegetarian or including meat, the base is pretty consistent: A rich and flavorful sauce featuring ground peanut paste (or natural, unsweetened peanut butter), fresh tomatoes, and tomato paste. Caramelized onions, chicken and tomato stock, and hot chili peppers are also added. Maggi bouillon cubes are readily available in many parts of Africa and are commonly used in African cooking, including this dish.
Situated in West Africa, Gambia was a British commonwealth until 1965 when it gained independence. The land is relatively more fertile than other parts of Africa and Gambia’s economy is dominated by farming, fishing and tourism. Thus, they’re able to grow things like the pumpkins and sweet potatoes that are common to Gambian cuisine.
Though Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, it’s culture and history are diverse. Some of this history was popularized in the Alex Haley book and TV series “Roots,” parts of which were set in the Gambia.
A very poor country, a third of Gambia’s population lives below the international poverty line of $1.25 a day. Vegetarian dishes are common in Gambia because of the expense of meat. Domoda is often eaten without meat as well. But when a Gambian family is able to enjoy a little luxury, they’ll often add chicken or beef to this national dish. It’s humbling preparing something that by our standards is simple and relatively inexpensive, knowing that for other countries, like many households in Gambia, it’s a luxury. I’ve made this dish different times with beef and chicken and they’re both delicious. This time I used beef, but chicken can be used interchangeably (the resulting stew will be a little lighter in color).
This Daring Gourmet version is true to authentic roots. It’s asimple dish to make with a rich and rewarding flavor. This is African comfort food at its best, folks, and believe me, it’s a winner!
Domoda Recipe
Let’s get started!
Heat the oil in large Dutch oven or heavy saucepan. Saute the onions until golden. Add the beef and garlic and continue to sauté until the beef is no longer pink. Add the tomatoes and cook for 3 minutes.
Add the tomato paste, chilies, peanut butter and stir to combine.
Add the water and bouillon cubes. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add squash, cover, and continue to cook for 35-40 minutes or until the pumpkin is tender, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper.
Serve hot with rice. This stew tastes even better the next day.
For more delicious African dishes be sure to try our:
- Doro Wat
- Sega Wat
- African Chicken Peanut Stew
- Gomen
- Misir Wat
- Bobotie
- Injera
African Peanut Stew (Domoda)
Kimberly Killebrew
The national dish of Gambia. A thick, saucy stew served over rice.
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 hour hr
Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Ingredients
- 1 lb beef steak or 1 lb chicken breast cut into 1/2 inch chunks (or use bone-in chicken pieces and simmer them in the sauce; once cooked leave the pieces whole or remove the meat from the bones and add it back to the stew.)
- 1 large onion diced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 Roma tomatoes diced
- 1/2 can 3 oz tomato paste
- 3/4 cup natural unsweetened peanut butter
- 4 Maggi or Knorr tomato bouillon cubes
- 3 cups water
- Scotch bonnet chilies diced, according to heat preference
- 4 cups pumpkin or sweet potato diced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Heat the oil in large Dutch oven. Saute the onions until golden. Add the beef and garlic and continue to sauté until the beef is no longer pink. Add the tomatoes and cook for 3 minutes. Add the tomato paste, chilies, peanut butter and stir to combine. Add the water and bouillon cubes. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add squash, cover, and continue to cook for 35-40 minutes or until the pumpkin is tender, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper.
Serve hot with rice. This stew tastes even better the next day.
Tried this recipe? Mention @daringgourmet or hashtag #daringgourmet
Originally published on The Daring Gourmet March 2, 2013
FAQs
It usually contains peanut butter or peanut paste, tomatoes and/or tomato paste, chili peppers, and a vegetable such as sweet potatoes, carrots, or pumpkin. In Senegal, the dish is called mafe. It is made with tomatoes, is spicy, and often served over rice.
What is the national dish of the Gambia? ›
Domoda is the national dish of Gambia. It is a delicious “groundnut stew” (peanuts) consisting of whatever vegetable happens to be available, typically pumpkin or sweet potatoes, and a saucy base.
Why is it called African peanut stew? ›
This peanut stew has a similar flavor and ingredients profile, but it originated from the Mandinka and Bambara people of Mali. A huge reason for its popularity throughout Africa is due to the cultivation of groundnut -- or peanuts -- throughout the continent during the colonial period.
Which African cuisine is contained of ground nuts? ›
Peanut stew or groundnut stew, also known as maafe (Wolof, mafé, maffé, maffe), sauce d'arachide (French) or tigadèguèna is a stew that is a staple food in Western Africa. It originates from the Mandinka and Bambara people of Mali. The proper name for it in the Mandinka language is domodah or tigadegena (lit.
What is the most popular food in Gambia? ›
The most common food served in a Gambian home is white rice with any one of a number of spicy sauces. Domoda is the most popular dish in my experience, in fact I was once offered it three times in one day.
What do gambians eat for breakfast? ›
Tapalapa and Senfurr are the two most popular breads used in Gambian breakfasts, snacks, and dinners. It's often enjoyed with butter, chocolate spread or a selection of sauces like bean paste, gronesoup ( smoked fish sauce with lemon, spice, onions, and chilli), bullet or fishball stew, or hearty steaks.
What is the taboo in Gambia? ›
Taboo topics
These include female genital mutilation, politics, tribal politics, hom*osexuality, criticism of their religion and certain cultural practices such as polygamy.
What is the food problem in Gambia? ›
Worsening Poverty & Hunger
Gambia's poverty rate hovers at 48% while hunger has risen from 5 to 8% over the past five years. Those who are mainly dependent on farming are the most hungry, yet agriculture employs 46% of the population – up to 80% in rural areas.
What is Gambia called in English? ›
The Gambia, officially the Republic of the Gambia, is a country in West Africa.
What is the African word for peanut? ›
“Nguba,” the word for peanut in the African Kongo and Kimbundu languages, led to “goober,” the South's nickname for peanuts. # TheMoreYouKnow.
In many parts of Africa, peanuts are usually known as groundnuts because the nut pods grow underground. Peanuts play an important nutritional role in many parts of Africa since they have good fats and contain 7 grams of protein which helps combat child malnutrition.
What is the African version of gumbo? ›
Consider the word “gumbo” which comes from the West African word “ki ngombo” for “o*kra”. West Africans used okra as a thickener in their version of the dish. The original West African gumbo has been described as stew-like, thickened with okra, and containing fish and shellfish.
What is Africa's most eaten food? ›
What are the most popular African foods?
- Jollof Rice. Jollof Rice is a beloved West African dish known for its rich, spicy tomato flavor. ...
- Egusi Soup. Egusi Soup is a popular dish in African cuisine, particularly in West Africa. ...
- Fufu. ...
- Suya. ...
- Injera. ...
- Doro Wat. ...
- Bobotie. ...
- Bunny Chow.
In Africa. Before the Portuguese traders introduced cassava to Africa from Brazil in the 16th century, fufu was mainly made from cocoyam, plantain and yams. The traditional method of eating fufu is to pinch some of the fufu off in one's right hand fingers and form it into an easily ingested round ball.
What is the most popular meat in Africa? ›
Africa
- Nigeria. Nigeria's most consumed meat is goat and lamb. ...
- South Africa. South Africa's most consumed meat is chicken. ...
- Egypt. In Egypt, the most consumed meat is poultry, particularly chicken. ...
- Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, the most consumed meat is beef. ...
- Algeria. The most consumed meat in Algeria is lamb.
Domoda is a Mandinka traditional dish, a delicious groundnut stew mixed with spices, meat (chicken or fish) and vegetables. It is a very famous food in The Gambia and Senegal.
How to make djerma? ›
Djerma
- Heat oil in a pan and brown the chicken over a medium-high heat.
- Make a tomato sauce by blending together the tomatoes, onion and garlic.
- Put the chicken, tomato sauce, paprika, thyme, curry powder, bay leaves, carrots, peanut butter and seasoning in a slow cooker. ...
- Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.
The roots of Domoda trace back to the Mandinka tribe—one of Gambia's largest ethnic groups. Peanuts, a key ingredient in Domoda, are abundant in Gambia. Over time, they found their way into various dishes, including this beloved stew. Historically, cooking was a communal activity in Gambian society.
What is the food of Mbahal Gambian? ›
Mbahal is a traditional Gambian dish that showcases the rich flavors of smoked fish, dried okra, and palm oil. It is a popular delicacy in Gambia, particularly among the Mandinka ethnic group. Mbahal is a hearty and aromatic stew that is enjoyed with rice or couscous, offering a unique and flavorful dining experience.
