Domada (Gambian Peanut Stew)
London, United Kingdom ·
Aperçu
Domada, also written Domoda, is Gambia's national dish and one of West Africa's most comforting stews, a rich, thick groundnut (peanut) based stew cooked with chicken or beef, tomatoes, sweet potato, and cabbage. The peanut paste dissolves into the broth as it cooks, creating a silky, deeply flavoured sauce that coats every piece of protein and vegetable in the pot. The dish belongs to the family of West African groundnut soups found across Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, and Cameroon, but Domada has its own character, sweeter from the potato, more mellow than the spicier Ghanaian versions, and always generous in the quantity of groundnut used. In Gambia it is eaten at celebrations, family gatherings, and as everyday home cooking.
Note de Patrimoine AFN
Domada originates from the Mandinka and Wolof peoples of Gambia and Senegal, where peanut-based cooking has been central to food culture for centuries following the introduction of groundnuts from South America in the 16th century. The dish is so deeply associated with Gambian national identity that it has been designated the country's national dish.
Made this last night in my Dutch oven using sweet potatoes and beef chunks. I was a bit hesitant about stirring 3/4 cup of natural peanut butter into a savory stew, but it thickened up into the most amazing rich gravy with the tomato paste. Couldn't find Scotch bonnets at my local store so I substituted one habanero. Took closer to 50 minutes for my sweet potatoes to get completely tender, but my family devoured it over rice.