1
Soften aromatics
Cook onion, garlic, and pepper in palm oil until fragrant.
base
08:00
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
Recipe overview
What to know before you cook
Plasas is Gambian leaf stew comfort: greens cooked down with peanut richness, smoked fish depth, and enough pepper to wake up rice or fufu.
What the dish tastes like
Gambian leafy stew with spinach or cassava leaves, peanut, palm oil, smoked fish, and chili.
When to cook it
Best for Best for rice plates, family lunch, and greens-heavy dinners., with a medium cooking level and about 95 minutes total.
What to serve alongside it
White rice, fufu, boiled cassava, or plantain.
Regional lane
Gambia national table. A verified 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
Each recipe supports one main image and up to four extra prep, serving, or step photos when they are available.
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
How to cook it
Step-by-step method
Keep the rhythm calm, watch the texture, and adjust seasoning at the end.
4 steps
95 min total
medium
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.