Djerma Delight

Ingredients

• 2 cups (470ml) ground peanuts 2 cups (470ml) ground peanuts
• 500g chicken or beef, cut into bite-sized pieces 500g chicken or beef, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 2 onions, finely chopped 2 onions, finely chopped
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger, grated 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger, grated
• 2 tomatoes, diced 2 tomatoes, diced
• 2 bell peppers, diced 2 bell peppers, diced
• 2 scotch bonnet peppers, finely chopped (adjust according to spice preference) 2 scotch bonnet peppers, finely chopped (adjust according to spice preference)
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons palm oil 2 tablespoons palm oil
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh cilantro, for garnish Fresh cilantro, for garnish

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 450 kcal / 1884 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 32g, 6g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 12g, 4g
• Protein: 32g
• Fiber: 4g
• Salt: 1g

Preparation

1. 1.
   In a large pot, heat the palm oil over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, and ginger, and sauté until fragrant.
2. 2.
   Add the chicken or beef to the pot and cook until browned on all sides.
3. 3.
   Stir in the tomato paste, ground cumin, ground coriander, paprika, dried thyme, salt, and pepper. Cook for an additional 2 minutes to allow the spices to bloom.
4. 4.
   Add the ground peanuts to the pot and stir well to combine with the meat and spices.
5. 5.
   Pour in enough water to cover the ingredients and bring the stew to a simmer. Cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. 6.
   Add the diced tomatoes, bell peppers, and scotch bonnet peppers to the pot. Continue to simmer for another 15 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
7. 7.
   Adjust the seasoning if needed and garnish with fresh cilantro before serving.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Ground peanuts — Make sure to use unsalted ground peanuts for the best flavor and texture. If you can't find ground peanuts, you can grind roasted peanuts in a food processor until they reach a fine consistency.

Tips & Tricks

• For an extra layer of flavor, you can roast the ground peanuts in a dry pan before adding them to the stew.
• Adjust the spiciness of the stew by adding more or fewer scotch bonnet peppers according to your preference.
• To make the stew even creamier, you can add a spoonful of peanut butter towards the end of cooking.

Serving advice

Serve the Djerma stew hot over a bed of fluffy white rice or with traditional Nigerian staples like fufu or pounded yam. Garnish with fresh cilantro for a pop of color and added freshness.

Presentation advice

Present the Djerma stew in a deep bowl, allowing the vibrant colors of the vegetables to shine through. Place a scoop of rice or fufu in the center and drizzle the stew around it. Garnish with a sprig of fresh cilantro for an elegant touch.