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Home » Food » African Chicken Peanut Stew (Plasas)

African Chicken Peanut Stew (Plasas)

January 19, 2019 by Kimberly Killebrew · 69 Comments

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Simple ingredients come together in this wonderfully flavorful African Chicken Peanut Stew – a perfect example of West African comfort food at its best!

african chicken peanut stew recipe plasas authentic traditional

It’s been over 15 years since my friend, Bobson, first made this dish for me in Germany.  A refugee from war-torn Sierra Leone, Bobson was a young man in his late 20’s trying to make a new life for himself.  He had never gone to school or learned how to read but he possessed a depth of wisdom that drew respect from those who knew him.  Friendly and out-going with a winning smile and a great sense of humor, Bobson was also kind-hearted and generous with what little he had.

He invited me and a couple of friends over for a traditional dish from Sierra Leone.  After the first bite I was hooked.  He served it with something he called pounded yam (aka “fufu”), a thick, starchy neutral-tasting substance that’s ground and then reconstituted with water.  You pull off a wad of it and make an indentation with your thumb to serve as an eating utensil to scoop up the food and mop up sauce.

The next time he invited us for dinner the unanimous request was that he make that same dish.  This time I watched him make it. And that’s the dish I’m sharing with you today: Bobson’s version of Sierra Leonean plasas.

21The scenic road from Kenema to the Kailahun district in Sierra Leone.

This dish is simply called plasas or sometimes also referred to as palava sauce or palaver sauce.  It doesn’t refer to a specific recipe so much as a specific kind of dish:  Plasas is a sauce comprised of some type of greens (either spinach, collard greens, kale, etc), some kind of meat, peanut butter for flavor and thickening, and often dried fish.  It’s commonly served with some kind of starchy side dish.

Simple ingredients come together to produce a BIG flavor in this delicious saucy stew.  Chicken, peanuts, tomatoes, greens and seasonings are showcased in this winning dish that will leave you licking your fingers.

A wonderfully satisfying meal, this African Chicken Peanut Stew is a perfect example of West African comfort food at its best!

African Chicken Peanut Stew Recipe

Let’s get started!

african chicken peanut stew recipe plasas authentic traditional

Heat some oil in a heavy pot or Dutch oven until very hot.  Generously brown the chicken pieces on all sides.  Remove the chicken.  In the same pot cook the onions until caramelized.  Add all remaining ingredients.

cooking chicken and other ingredients in pot

Bring the sauce to a simmer and stir until the peanut butter is fully incorporated.  Add the chicken pieces, nestling them in the sauce.  Cover and simmer for at least an hour.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

african chicken peanut stew recipe plasas authentic traditional

This stew is perfect for leftovers because it tastes even better the next day after the flavors have had time meld.

african chicken peanut stew recipe plasas authentic traditional

Serve with steamed rice or African fufu and your choice of vegetables and a leafy green salad.

Enjoy!

african chicken peanut stew recipe plasas authentic traditional

 

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african chicken peanut stew recipe plasas authentic traditional

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african chicken peanut stew recipe plasas authentic traditional

African Chicken Peanut Stew (Plasas)

Kimberly Killebrew
Simple ingredients come together in this wonderfully flavorful Chicken Peanut Stew. It's a perfect example of West African comfort food at its best!  
Print Recipe
4.83 from 23 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 25 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine West African
Servings 4 servings
Calories 454 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 1/2-2 pounds bone-in and skin-on chicken pieces (alternatively, beef is also commonly used)
  • Palm or coconut oil for frying
  • 1 large yellow onion
  • 28 ounces canned diced tomatoes
  • 6 ounce can tomato paste ,not tomato sauce
  • 10 ounce package frozen spinach ,fully thawed and drained
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened peanut butter
  • 3 Maggie or Knorr tomato bouillon cubes (a popular ingredient in West African cooking)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup strong chicken broth
  • Optional: For some heat add some red chilis or hot sauce

Instructions
 

  • Heat some oil in a heavy pot or Dutch oven until very hot. Generously brown the chicken pieces on all sides (crucial for the flavor of the sauce). Remove the chicken.
  • In the same pot, add some more oil and cook the onions until caramelized. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer, stirring until the peanut butter is fully incorporated. Return the chicken to the sauce, nestling it in the sauce. Cover and simmer over low for at least one hour. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Serve with steamed rice or African fufu (see blog post for explanation).
  • **This dish tastes even better the next day after the flavors have had more time to meld.

Nutrition

Calories: 454kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 1531mg | Potassium: 1400mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 8155IU | Vitamin C: 34.8mg | Calcium: 120mg | Iron: 4.9mg
Keyword Plasas
Tried this recipe? Mention @daringgourmet or hashtag #daringgourmet

Sierra Leone photo courtesy Lindsay Stark via Flickr

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69 Comments →

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69 Responses

  1. Barbara Frey says

    January 29, 2023 at 3:12 am

    Hi,

    Thanks for all the wonderful recipes.

    Could you please tell me the size of the diced tomatoes?

    Im looking forward to making this.

    Thank you

    Reply
    • Kimberly Killebrew says

      January 29, 2023 at 7:29 am

      You’re very welcome, Barbara, I’m happy you’re making this :) The size is purely a matter of personal preference. I prefer petite diced in general just because I prefer smaller chunks. Happy cooking!

      Reply
      • Cassandra Schaefer says

        April 29, 2023 at 11:33 am

        Actually, I think they mean to ask what size CANS (ml or oz) to use for the diced tomatoes as you did not include that in the recipe. They are asking for a volume measurement.
        I would also like to know since I don’t want to add too much by accident.

        Reply
        • Kimberly Killebrew says

          April 29, 2023 at 2:31 pm

          Oh got it! Thanks for clarifying, Cassandra. It’s two standard-sized cans, 14 ounces each. I just updated it to say 28 ounces of canned tomatoes. Thanks again and happy cooking!

          Reply
  2. Shaun says

    December 11, 2022 at 11:57 am

    Can you use ginger for this recipe or will the taste be affected. I know in other peanut chicken recipes with less tomato it calls for ginger all the time. Also can you replace peanut butter with almond butter.

    Reply
    • Kimberly Killebrew says

      December 11, 2022 at 7:24 pm

      Hi Shaun, ginger is commonly added to Thai peanut-based dishes but is the wrong flavor profile for this particular African dish. Yes, you can use almond butter but it will of course lend a much different flavor.

      Reply
      • Shaun says

        December 14, 2022 at 3:38 am

        Ok I was just checking! I normally used it for other Africa peanut stew recipes but those were less tomato based ones. That’s why I had to make sure.
        I will be trying this next week for sure though. I already have all my ingredients.

        Reply
  3. Christine Tripp says

    February 6, 2022 at 1:01 pm

    LOVED this! I spatchcocked a small organic chicken and crossed my fingers that it would cook in roughly the same time and it was perfect! Lovely story of the original cook of this dish too.
    On another note, just made your recipe for “Berbere Spice”, can’t wait to use it.

    Reply
    • Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      February 6, 2022 at 4:15 pm

      That’s wonderful, Christine, I’m so happy you enjoyed it and really appreciate the feedback, thank you!

      Reply
  4. WES UNWIN says

    January 28, 2022 at 9:18 am

    Made this for supper the other night.
    Best thing I’ve ever eaten, no but pretty darn good.
    Wouldn’t change anything everyone called it a keeper.

    Reply
    • Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      January 28, 2022 at 6:29 pm

      Thanks, Wes, I’m glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  5. Karen says

    November 12, 2021 at 7:41 am

    Would using boneless chicken alter the outcome of the recipe?

    Reply
    • Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      November 13, 2021 at 6:46 am

      Hi Karen, no, you can definitely use boneless, the stew just won’t be as rich in flavor (but still yummy :)

      Reply
  6. Anne says

    September 7, 2021 at 5:46 am

    This recipe is fantastic! So easy to follow, and it turned out perfectly. My Nigerian husband and I (American) both loved it, so that’s a win-win!

    Reply
    • Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      September 7, 2021 at 6:44 pm

      Thank you, Anne, I’m so happy you both enjoyed it!

      Reply
  7. Elizabeth says

    August 16, 2021 at 7:33 pm

    I thought the dish was amazing!! Only concern I have is with the amount of sodium the dish has. Has anyone tried this dish with less sodium? Is there any way to get that tomato flavor without the extra additives? Trying to eat cleaner.

    Reply
  8. Marie lockett says

    July 4, 2021 at 3:16 pm

    I made it but mine came out like a soup and the chicken wasn’t really that dark n the sauce did really stick to it. What should I do help help.

    Reply
  9. Michael says

    March 29, 2021 at 8:05 pm

    Divine flavours and textures, a real ‘keeper’ recipe. First time I’ve used coconut oil and I really enjoyed the flavours it brought out of the chicken. I fleshed out the veggies a bit with diced zucchini, but you could really add anything at hand… carrots, pumpkin etc. I also made a bit more tomato & peanut sauce with the broth to cover the ingredients for an ultra slow-cook over three hours. Had enough leftovers for a second dinner and the whole dish matured to a beautiful depth of flavour! I love to cook with lots of herbs, garlic, onions and spices to make my sauces and meals etc; but I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of flavours in this recipe brought out by the lack of condiments and simplicity in preparation. Anyways a ‘Magnificent Meal’ thanks for sharing! Cheers…

    Reply
    • Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      March 31, 2021 at 6:28 pm

      I’m so happy to hear that, Michael, thanks so much for the feedback!

      Reply
  10. Amber says

    April 18, 2020 at 9:15 am

    I’ve been looking for a strong tasting dish like this for a long time! I was super happy and so was my bf. It thoroughly satisfied me and gave me that kick that I need when I’m eating a meal, not to mention it was suuuuuuper easy to make. I substituted one can of coconut milk for one can of the tomatoes, and I added an additional half teaspoon of bullion powder, a big clove of garlic, and spicy chili. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe!

    Reply
    • Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      April 18, 2020 at 9:47 am

      Fantastic, Amber, I’m so glad you guys enjoyed it and I appreciate the feedback, thank you!

      Reply
  11. Nini says

    November 6, 2019 at 6:29 pm

    My husband’s from Togo and we’r love this dish with our own variations but thanks because it’s somewhat challenging cooking without recipes and ever since finding yours we have been so happy!

    Reply
  12. catherine says

    February 1, 2019 at 4:55 pm

    I made this dish a few days ago. I found it too intense in tomatoes for my taste, so I added a can of low fat coconut milk and added already cubed and roasted butternut squash at the end as well. That mellowed it out and we liked it a lot better. I suppose in Gambia this dish enjoys many variations. It’s lovely delicious and very pretty on the plate.

    Reply
    • Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      February 2, 2019 at 12:02 am

      Hi Catherine, I’m glad you enjoyed it and were able to adapt it to your taste, thanks for the feedback!

      Reply
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kimberly killebrew the daring gourmet

Welcome!  I’m Kimberly and I share delicious originals, revitalized classics and authentic dishes from around the world.  Come travel the world through your taste buds!

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