1
Brown the lamb
Season lamb with salt. Heat oil and brown on all sides. Remove and reserve.
Brown meat
08:00
Mali | Stew
Tigadegena
Malian peanut stew with lamb, beef, or chicken simmered in tomato, onion, garlic, groundnut paste, and vegetables.
Country
Mali
Region
West Africa
Time
85 min
Serves
6
Level
medium
Recipe overview
What to know before you cook
Tigadegena is all about a smooth peanut sauce. Loosen the paste first, simmer low, and stir so the groundnuts do not catch.
What the dish tastes like
Malian peanut stew with lamb, beef, or chicken simmered in tomato, onion, garlic, groundnut paste, and vegetables.
When to cook it
Best for Daily meals and family gatherings, with a medium cooking level and about 85 minutes total.
What to serve alongside it
White rice, toh, fonio, couscous, or steamed millet
Regional lane
Mali national table. A verified Mali dish in the AfroKitchen archive.
Chef watch-outs
- Stopping the base before the pepper, onion, or spice edge has mellowed.
- Thinning the pot before the body of the soup or stew has developed.
- Overcooking the greens until the color and texture collapse.
How you know it is ready
- The sauce should coat the spoon and taste rounded, not watery or raw.
- Greens should be cooked through but still look alive and glossy.
- The aroma should smell rounded rather than raw or sharp.
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 Tigadegena
White rice, toh, fonio, couscous, or steamed millet
Best route from here
Mali 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.
5 steps
85 min total
medium
2
Fry the aromatics
Add onions and fry until softened. Stir in tomato paste and cook 3 minutes.
Fry onions
05:00
3
Create peanut sauce
Dissolve peanut paste in 3 cups warm water. Pour into pot with browned lamb. Simmer.
4
Cook the stew
Add potatoes and eggplant. Cover and simmer 40 minutes until meat is fork-tender and sauce thickened.
Simmer stew
40:00
5
Serve
Serve over white rice or alongside toh.
Beef, chicken, goat, or vegetables can be used. Some cooks add cabbage, sweet potato, or chilli for a fuller family-style stew.