Siga Wassa (Malian Beef and Peanut Stew)
A hearty and flavorful stew made with tender chunks of beef, simmered in a rich peanut sauce with tomatoes, onions, and spices. It's a comforting and popular dish across Mali, often served with rice or millet couscous.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 kg Beef chuck(cut into 2-inch cubes)
- 3 tbsp Vegetable oil
- 2 large Onions(chopped)
- 4 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 1 inch piece Ginger(grated)
- 3 tbsp Tomato paste
- 400 g Diced tomatoes(canned)
- 200 g Peanut butter(unsweetened, smooth)
- 750 ml Beef broth
- 1 large Sweet potato(peeled and cubed)
- 2 medium Carrots(peeled and sliced)
- 1 tsp Cumin
- 1 tsp Coriander
- 0.5 tsp Cayenne pepper(or to taste)
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black pepper
- a handful Fresh cilantro(chopped, for garnish)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Pat the beef dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper.
💡 Tip: Drying the beef helps it brown better. - 2
Heat vegetable oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the beef in batches, ensuring not to overcrowd the pot. Remove beef and set aside.
⏱️ 10-15 minutes - 3
Add chopped onions to the pot and cook until softened and lightly browned, about 5-7 minutes.
⏱️ 7 minutes💡 Tip: Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. - 4
Add minced garlic and grated ginger, and cook for another minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 1 minute - 5
Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
⏱️ 2 minutes - 6
Add the diced tomatoes, peanut butter, beef broth, cumin, coriander, and cayenne pepper. Stir well to combine, ensuring the peanut butter is fully incorporated.
💡 Tip: If the sauce is too thick, add a little more broth or water. - 7
Return the browned beef to the pot. Bring the stew to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 1 hour.
⏱️ 1 hour - 8
Add the cubed sweet potato and sliced carrots to the pot. Stir, cover, and continue to simmer for another 30 minutes, or until the beef and vegetables are tender.
⏱️ 30 minutes - 9
Season with salt and pepper to taste. If the stew is too thin, you can simmer it uncovered for a few minutes to thicken.
💡 Tip: Taste and adjust seasonings before serving. - 10
Serve hot, garnished with fresh chopped cilantro. It pairs well with rice, millet couscous, or fufu.
💡 Tip: A dollop of plain yogurt or sour cream can be a nice addition for some.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For a smoother peanut sauce, you can blend the peanut butter with a little warm broth before adding it to the pot.
- ✓Adjust the cayenne pepper to your preferred level of spice.
- ✓If you don't have sweet potatoes, regular potatoes can be used, but they will cook faster.
🔄 Variations
- Add other vegetables like bell peppers or zucchini.
- For a richer flavor, a bay leaf can be added during simmering.
- A splash of lime juice at the end can brighten the flavors.