Tiga Dege Na

About This Recipe

Tiga Dege Na (meaning 'groundnut sauce' in Bambara/Malinke) is the soul food of Guinea and much of West Africa. Chicken or beef simmers in a thick sauce built on natural peanut butter, tomatoes, and onions, creating a sauce that is simultaneously rich, earthy, and subtly sweet. Served over rice or fufu.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 800 gchicken pieces
• 1/2 cupnatural peanut butter
• 3 mediumtomatoes, blended
• 1 largeonion, chopped
• 2 cupschicken stock or water
• salt andchilli to taste

Instructions

1. 1

   Brown chicken

   Season chicken and brown in oil over high heat. Remove and set aside.

2. 2

   Build sauce

   In the same pot, fry onion until soft. Add blended tomatoes and cook 10 minutes.

3. 3

   Add peanut butter

   Whisk peanut butter with 1 cup stock until smooth; pour into pot. Add remaining stock and chicken.

4. 4

   Simmer

   Simmer on low heat 35 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens and chicken is tender.

5. 5

   Serve

   Season to taste and serve over rice with a side of fried plantains.

Variations

• •

  Use beef or lamb instead of chicken.

• •

  Add sweet potato or squash cubes for a hearty variation.

• •

  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

Refrigerate up to 4 days. Thicken further on second day — thin with stock when reheating.

Frequently Asked Questions