Name: Daraba
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Chad, Central Africa
Ingredients: 400 g mixed greens, spinach and sorrel, chopped; 200 g okra, sliced; 3 tbsp peanut butter, smooth, natural; 3 medium tomatoes, chopped; 1 large onion, diced; 2 tbsp palm oil; 1 whole scotch bonnet pepper, minced

Daraba

A thick, creamy stew of mixed greens, okra, tomatoes, and peanut butter, sometimes enriched with smoked fish. A beloved everyday dish across southern Chad.

Country

Chad

Region

Central Africa

Time

55 min

Serves

Level

easy

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Daraba is the everyday stew of southern Chad, where the Sara people have cultivated a rich agricultural tradition. The dish combines whatever leafy greens are available â€” spinach, sorrel, or sweet potato leaves â€” with okra for body and peanut butter for richness. It is simple, nourishing, and endlessly adaptable, making it the backbone of daily meals.

What the dish tastes like

A thick, creamy stew of mixed greens, okra, tomatoes, and peanut butter, sometimes enriched with smoked fish. A beloved everyday dish across southern Chad.

When to cook it

Best for Everyday meals, communal dining, with a easy cooking level and about 55 minutes total.

What to serve alongside it

Boule (millet porridge) or rice

Follow the collection route

Vegetarian Africa is the main AfroKitchen collection route tied to this dish right now. Vegetarian Africa

Cook the aromatics

Heat palm oil in a large pot over medium heat. SautÃ© the diced onion until soft and golden, about 5 minutes. Add the scotch bonnet and chopped tomatoes, cooking until the tomatoes break down.

Cook onion and tomato 08:00

Add peanut butter

Stir the peanut butter into the pot with 2 cups of water, mixing until smooth and well combined. Bring to a gentle simmer.

Dissolve the peanut butter in a little warm water first to prevent clumping.

Add okra

Add the sliced okra to the simmering sauce and cook for 10 minutes until the okra softens and thickens the stew.

Cook okra 10:00

Add the greens

Add the chopped greens to the pot and stir to combine. Cover and cook for 15 minutes until the greens are wilted and tender.

Do not overcook â€” the greens should be tender but still vibrant green.

Cook greens 15:00

Serve

Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Serve hot over boule or rice.

Daraba thickens as it cools â€” add a splash of water when reheating.

Daraba

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Step-by-step instructions

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