Idris Elba is known for his acting, his serious DJ skills and, of course, his unbelievably good looks. The Luther star celebrated his birthday earlier in September, and as fall weather starts to officially feel like it is rolling in, now feels like the perfect time to revisit a dish he once said he can’t live without: his mom’s African peanut stew. As the days get shorter and the temperatures start to dip, nothing hits the spot quite like a hearty, comforting stew. Idris Elba once revealed that the dish he can’t live without is his mom’s African peanut stew: a rich, flavor-packed recipe that’s perfect for fall.In 2022, when Elba was promoting his action film Beast, he mentioned the recipe during an appearance on WGN’s Dean’s A-List.As a West African myself (and a huge fan of peanut stew), I was intrigued. The dish is often referred to as groundnut stew, and it’s a staple across many parts of West Africa, including countries like Ghana, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Mali.
There are plenty of different variations on peanut stew across the region, and with Idris’ family being from both Ghana and Sierra Leone, I was very excited to give his mom’s peanut stew a try. Here's how it went when I made it in my kitchen.
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As I mentioned, peanut stew is a staple across many parts of West Africa, but what unites all of the different takes on the dish is the rich, nutty peanut butter base, which gets blended into a savory broth. The peanut butter helps to create a thick, luscious stew that's the perfect comfort dish for all of the chilly nights ahead.Depending on the recipe, some peanut stews will include proteins, like chicken, beef, lamb or tofu.
I also love that peanut stew is a one-pot recipe. West Africans are big fans of one-pot meals, like jollof rice, and as someone who absolutely loathes doing the dishes, that's something I’m very much in support of. This hearty, protein-packed peanut stew is something I highly recommend making this fall. Plus, it’s extra heartwarming knowing that Elba still craves his mother’s cooking.
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How to Make Idris Elba’s Mom’s African Peanut Stew
Idris isn’t very detailed about exactly how to make the stew in the video—though he does say he’s “perfected it.” Luckily, Dean’s version offers a clear starting point. The version that Dean shared on his segment calls for chicken thighs, so you’ll start by browning the chicken on both sides in a large skillet with olive oil over medium-high heat. Once the chicken is browned, remove the meat from the pot and set it aside.
Pour a bit more olive oil into the pot and heat it up. Add chopped onions and diced red bell pepper and sauté until tender over medium heat. Next, add in the tomato sauce, black pepper, cayenne pepper and chicken bouillon powder. Stir everything together and let it all simmer for a few minutes before adding the chicken broth.
Place the browned chicken back into the pot and let it simmer for about 10 minutes. Salt to taste and then stir in the peanut butter until it is fully combined. Let the stew simmer over low heat until it's nice and thick.
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My Honest Thoughts About Idris Elba’s Mom’s Peanut Stew
So, how did it turn out when I gave this recipe a go at home? The final result was simple, hearty, and very tasty. It’s exactly the kind of comfort food you crave on a cool night.
That said, I think the recipe leaves plenty of room to make it your own. I’d personally add some fresh aromatics, like ginger and garlic, to contrast the strong flavor of the peanut butter. I’d also bulk this peanut stew up with vegetables. Common additions to peanut stew include potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, collard greens, mushrooms or cabbage. A mix of hearty vegetables would transform this recipe into a true stew with lots of flavor and texture.
Overall, Elba’s mom’s peanut stew is a great foundation for a delicious cold-weather meal. It’s simple and soulful, but leaves a lot of room for personal interpretation. It’s a good recipe to keep in your back pocket and build upon depending on your own personal tastes.
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How to Serve African Peanut Stew
Peanut stew is typically served with some sort of starch. It can be served simply over a bowl of plain white rice and can also be eaten with cooked, pounded starches known as swallows, which are eaten with a variety of soups and stews throughout West Africa. One of the most well-known swallows is fufu, which is made from cassava or pounded yam that's cooked until it becomes soft and elastic. To eat the stew with a swallow, you pinch off a bit of the swallow, roll it into a ball and dip it in the stew.
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