Gambia | Stew

Plasas

Gambian leafy stew with spinach or cassava leaves, peanut, palm oil, smoked fish, and chili.

Country
Gambia
Region
West Africa
Time
95 min
Serves
6
Level
medium
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Recipe overview

What to know before you cook

Use this overview to check the occasion, serving ideas, regional context, and cooking commitment before you begin.

When to cook it

Best for rice plates, family lunch, and greens-heavy dinners.. Plan on a medium cook and about 95 minutes total.

What to serve alongside it

White rice, fufu, boiled cassava, or plantain.

Regional lane

Gambia national table. A structured Gambia dish in the AfroKitchen archive.

Chef watch-outs
  • Adding too much liquid after the rice goes in.
  • Stirring too often once the grains should be steaming.
  • Stopping the base before the pepper, onion, or spice edge has mellowed.
How you know it is ready
  • The grains should be tender but still distinct, with steam carrying the seasoning upward.
  • The sauce should coat the spoon and taste rounded, not watery or raw.
  • Greens should be cooked through but still look alive and glossy.
Recipe photos

See the dish before you cook

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Plasas recipe from Gambia
Plasas finished dish
Chef board

Build the table around Plasas

White rice, fufu, boiled cassava, or plantain.

Best route from here

Gambia national table

Collections to keep cooking
Explore Gambia recipes
Servings 6

Scale the dish before you shop, then use the checklist while you cook.

How to cook it

Step-by-step method

Keep the rhythm calm, watch the texture, and adjust seasoning at the end.

Back to Gambia
4 steps 20 min prep 75 min cook 95 min total medium
1
Soften aromatics
Cook onion, garlic, and pepper in palm oil until fragrant.
base 08:00
2
Cook the greens
Add greens and stock, then simmer until tender and reduced.
greens 35:00
3
Add peanut and fish
Stir in peanut butter and smoked fish. Simmer until thick and rich.
stew 25:00
4
Serve
Adjust seasoning and serve hot over rice or with fufu.
finish 03:00

Cassava leaves, spinach, bitter leaves, fish, chicken, beef, or vegetarian peanut versions all appear across households.

Keep exploring

Cook around Plasas

Follow country, category, collection, time, and pairing paths without turning the recipe page into a link farm.

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