Domoda

About This Recipe

Domoda (also spelled domodah) is the national dish of The Gambia and a beloved stew throughout Senegal, particularly associated with the Mandinka ethnic group. Unlike mafé, which uses fresh tomatoes and is more savory, domoda uses tomato paste for a sweeter, richer flavor profile. It is also typically richer in vegetables — sweet potato, eggplant, and cabbage are common additions. The peanut butter is added in generous quantities and the stew is thick enough to stand a spoon in it. Domoda is traditionally served over white rice or couscous.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 600 gbeef stew meat(cut into chunks)
• 200 gnatural peanut butter
• 3 tbsptomato paste
• 1 largeonion(chopped)
• 1 mediumsweet potato(cubed)
• 1 mediumeggplant(cubed)
• 1/4 smallcabbage(roughly chopped)
• 2 wholescotch bonnet or habanero peppers
• 1 litrewater
• 2 tbspvegetable oil
• 1 tspsalt

Instructions

1. 1

   Brown the beef

   Heat oil and brown beef on all sides. Remove and set aside.

2. 2

   Build the base

   Fry onion until golden. Add tomato paste and cook 8 minutes until it darkens.

3. 3

   Add peanut butter

   Whisk peanut butter with 500ml warm water. Add to pot with beef and remaining water.

4. 4

   Simmer and add vegetables

   Add peppers. Simmer 30 minutes. Add sweet potato, eggplant, and cabbage. Cook 25 more minutes until tender and sauce is thick.

Variations

• •

  Make vegetarian with only vegetables

• •

  Use chicken thighs for a lighter version

• •

  Vegetarian: swap the protein for roasted king oyster mushrooms, smoked tofu or cooked chickpeas — adjust seasoning slightly upward to compensate.

• •

  Spicier: add a finely chopped fresh chile or a teaspoon of crushed Aleppo/Urfa pepper to the aromatics for warm, layered heat instead of a single sharp hit.

Storage

Keeps 3 days refrigerated. Add water when reheating as the sauce thickens.

Frequently Asked Questions