máfé

Mafé, also spelled mafé or mafè, is a peanut-based stew from West Africa. It is especially associated with Senegal, Mali, The Gambia, and Burkina Faso. The dish typically features meat such as beef or lamb, or fish, simmered in a thick sauce made from roasted groundnuts (peanuts), onions, tomatoes, and a blend of spices. The sauce is usually prepared with palm oil or peanut oil, giving it a rich, nutty flavor.

Common ingredients include meat or vegetables, onions, garlic, tomatoes, chilies, and coriander or cumin. The distinctive peanut sauce is made by grinding or blending roasted peanuts into a paste and thinning it with stock or water. Vegetables may include potatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, peppers, and eggplant. Vegetarian or vegan versions substitute vegetables or legumes for meat.

Preparation generally involves browning meat, sautéing onions and garlic, adding tomatoes and spices, then stirring in the peanut paste and simmering until tender. The sauce thickens as it cooks. Mafé is typically served with rice, couscous, or fonio.

It is a staple of home cooking and festive meals across the region and demonstrates the Sahelian peanut-cultivation tradition. Regional variations adjust the heat level and spice mix, resulting in a range of flavors from mild and creamy to spicier, more tomato-forward versions.