As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my disclosure policy.
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
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
Domoda (also known as domoda farine or domodah) is a Senegalese dish. It is a smooth, tomato-based ragout prepared with vinegar and vegetables, to which flour is added to thicken the sauce. Domoda is one of the emblematic recipes of Senegalese gastronomy.
What is the national dish of the Gambia? ›
Domoda, the national dish of Gambia, is a culinary delight that has captured the hearts and taste buds of many. This peanut stew, often served with rice, is a staple in Gambian households and an integral part of their culture.
What is the history of peanut stew in Africa? ›
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.
What is peanut butter stew made of? ›
It starts with a combo of fresh ginger, onion and jalapeño cooked in a broth with tomato paste and peanut butter. Sweet potatoes get added to the mix to help thicken and flavor the broth. Then we add fresh chopped collard greens for extra flavor and superpower phytonutrients.
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? ›
The older generation prefers traditional breakfast options like Chereh, Mono, Lakh, Latcheri and Chura Gerteh primarily for health reasons and also because these are softer than bread. Chereh is a millet and peanut porridge from the Serrer tribe.
What is the taboo in Gambia? ›
In many cultures, menstruation is considered a taboo [2, 18–23] and is clouded with silence and secrecy [4, 16, 18, 24]. In The Gambia, menstruation is not only a taboo subject for public discussion, but also rarely spoken of in the private [25, 26].
What did Gambia used to be called? ›
Precolonial history
Its history is closely tied to that of neighbouring Senegal, since it was only in the late 19th century that a distinction was made between Senegal and The Gambia; until that time the region is often referred to as Senegambia.
What do they drink in Gambia? ›
Let's take a closer look at some of the popular local juices of The Gambia and their positive impacts on overall well-being.
- Baobab Juice. ...
- Wonjo Juice. ...
- Ginger Juice. ...
- Tamarind Juice. ...
- Wonjo-Ndaje Juice. ...
- Conclusion.
In many parts of Africa, peanuts are usually known as groundnuts because the nut pods grow underground.
The peanut originated in Bolivia and was brought by conquistadors to Africa during the fifteenth century. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock. The sandy soil of West Africa was primed to farm peanuts. As the popularity of the legume increased, so did the need for labor.
What is the peanut paste for famine? ›
Plumpy'Nut is a peanut-based paste in a plastic wrapper for treatment of severe acute malnutrition manufactured by Nutriset, a French company. Feeding with the 92-gram (31⁄4 oz) packets of this paste reduces the need for hospitalization.
What is the most popular soup in Africa? ›
Egusi soup
Egusi is a flavorful soup or sauce that is popular throughout West and Central Africa (most noteably Nigeria and Central African Republic) consisting of onions, tomatoes, hot chili peppers, and oil. It is traditionally thickened with flour that is made from seeds of gourds, pumpkins, melons, and squashes.
Why put vinegar in stews? ›
Vinegar can add depth of flavour to soups, sauces, and stews. Especially great for tomato-based recipes, you can add a couple of tablespoons of vinegar towards the end of the cooking process to amplify the flavours of your other ingredients.
What is the liquid in stew called? ›
Broth is a thin soup made of the water in which flavor-enhancing ingredients like meat, vegetables, and herbs and spices have been simmered. The liquid is strained after cooking to remove the flavoring ingredients. The broth can be served on its own or used as the base for a heartier soup or stew.
Is fufu a national dish? ›
Fufu is Ghana's national dish, a starchy side dish, and an important accompaniment to various stews and sauce-based dishes. It is also very popular and regularly eaten throughout West and Central Africa.
What is the famous thing in Gambia? ›
| Camel Riding | Beaches |
| Cape Point | Tanji Fishing Village |
| Tanji Village Museum | Bijilo Forest Park |
| Wassu Stone Circles | Jinack Island |
| Kartong Beach | Dolphin Spotting |
13 more rowsThe Gambia is a former British Colony and the official language is English but there are also several tribal languages including Mandinka and Wolof. Educated in English, most Gambian people are at least bilingual.
Is fufu a Gambian? ›
Fufu is often dipped into sauces or eaten with stews of meat, fish, or vegetables. The dish reportedly originated in Ghana, where it is a staple.
