Mafe is the ultimate comfort food in Dakar. It is also well known to make you very tired. I tried to stay as authentic as possible but I added a lot more vegetables in order to make it a bit more hearty.

Ingredients 

1 Onion

2 Carrots

2-3 Potatoes

1 cup of chopped butternut squash/ melon

1 White sweet potato cubed

1 medium cassava root

10-15 pods of Okra (leave 5-7 unchopped)

3 tablespoons of tomato paste

2 -4 large spoons of peanut butter (depending on how peanut buttery you want it)

1 tablespoon of crushed Netetou (traditional West African seasoning)

1/2 tablespoon Black Pepper

1 habenero pepper (de-seed if you cant stand the heat)

maggi cube or vegetarian bullion really makes a difference)

Salt to taste

Directions

1. Wash all vegetables and chop veggies , make the starchy veggies not too small so they keep some of their shape and texture.
2. Saute oil in pot and add half of the onions, wait one minute and then add 5 cloves of chopped garlic.
3. When browned a bit, add a cup of water and 3 tablespoons of tomato paste. Stir.
4. When oil has risen to the top of the pot, add all vegetables except squash and okra.
5. Add salt, pepper, habenero pepper, neteou, and maggi cube or bullion
6. Let boil for about 15 minutes.
7. Add squash and okra
8. Take out about half a cup of the cooking broth and set it inside a bowl. Add 2-3 tablespoons of peanut butter to that bowl and stir until smooth
9. Add tomato-peanut butter mixture to pot
10. Stir well
11. Taste for seasoning, add more salt if needed.
12. Cook for 10 -15 minutes checking on liquid levels.
13. Serve with a plate of hot white rice and side of lime!