One of the advertising agencies I formerly worked for was situated in North Sydney, on the 9th floor of a building. Around us were other office buildings and to be completely honest, I never gave my office neighbours one single thought.
That was, until one day where the entire 9th and 10th floor of the agency was abuzz. There was an interactive department guy with a long ponytail who always appeared to me as if joined to his headphones and his computer. Apparently he had legs under that desk and he was using them to run around each floor. His fingers gripped the doorway of our shared office and his head appeared a second later.
“Naked girl! Downstairs! Pool!” he said and then proceeded to alert everyone else in the office. My colleague Peaches and I looked at each other and rolled our eyes and continued our work. There were two male members of our team, a squirrely little guy who ran upstairs immediately. The fourth team member walked upstairs because “it can’t hurt to look.”
It was almost lunchtime so Peaches and I got up to get our lunch and so did the other women on the floor. We talked about how effective a distraction a naked girl was and how it had cleared the offices faster than the fire drill a few weeks before.
“What do you think she looks like?” one woman asked and we shrugged and curiosity got the better of us so we went to have a look. We didn’t have to search too hard to see where she was. The entire male and some female population of the agency had their noses pressed up against the window of the floor and were openly admiring the nude sunbathing goddess. They rated her a 10 our of 10 and that was apparently enough for the interactive guy with the ponytail to decide that he was going to ask her out.
“I’m going downstairs to ask her out” he said confidence possibly bolstered by all the blood rushing out of his brain.
“We’re going to lunch” we said and left.
Lunch trumps naked people (mostly) and with that, I’m going to suggest that you all have this dish for lunch, or dinner. I first saw this recipe on Marissa’s lovely blog, Pinch & Swirl. I had never heard of West African Chicken Peanut Stew but it looked fantastic. For those of you that want a full flavoured dish that is easy to prepare (just some chopping and then simmer for an hour unattended), or those who love the peanutty flavour of satay, this is for you. It was so delicious that when I was cooking it and opened my front door, a normally sullen neighbour commented about how good it smelled.
I’ve adapted Marissa’s already fabulous dish and just taken out the coconut milk and reduced the amount of chicken and increased the vegetables just to make it a bit healthier (although with a cup of peanut butter, it’s definitely not a diet dish). And yes Dear Reader, this is one of those pushy dishes which I urge you to make. It’s perfect for every member of the family (except, well anyone allergic to peanuts but you can use almond or cashew butter if they’re not allergic to them).
Oh and if you were curious about how that interactive guy went with his sunbathing goddess, somehow through some random buzzing, he got through the building’s security system and about 15 minutes later, he was spotted approaching her. I believe that she was European and much more relaxed with the idea of nudity. She rebuffed his advances and then looked up and saw an office looking up at her. She waved, apparently either unperturbed or uncaring at the commotion that she had caused and sent him on his merry way.
So tell me Dear Reader, would you have gone to have a look at her? And would you have cared if you saw an office full of people staring at you?
West African Chicken & Peanut Stew
Adapted from Pinch & Swirl
Serves 8-10
- 3-4 tablespoons oil
- 500g/1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 3 inch piece of ginger, peeled and finely chopped
- 5 large garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped
- 750g/26 ozs sweet potatoes, scrubbed, peeled and diced
- 750ml/26 fl. ozs chicken stock
- 1 cup smooth or chunky peanut butter (or another butter, if you are allergic)
- 1 tablespoon coriander seeds, bashed in a mortar and pestle
- 800g/28 ounce can chopped tomatoes with juice
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup roasted peanuts (optional, don’t use if you are allergic obviously
) - a handful of fresh chopped coriander/cilantro
- Rice to serve
1. Heat oil in a large cast iron pot over medium heat. Add chicken thighs in two batches so that they brown properly. Remove chicken and set aside. Add a bit more oil and add onions, ginger and garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, scraping the bottom for any chicken bits.
2. Add the sweet potatoes, chicken stock, peanut butter, ground coriander and tomatoes. Stir until well combined and peanut butter is distributed. Return chicken thighs to pot, stir, and bring to a simmer.
3. Cover the pot and simmer gently for 45 minutes to an hour. Add salt, freshly ground black pepper to taste. Ladle in to individual soup bowls and garnish with peanuts and coriander or cilantro.
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58 Comments | Add your own
Beautiful and extremely droolworthy! I’m bookmarking this wonderful recipe.
Cheers,
Rosa
Lorraine, I love your take on this stew! After a week of non-stop eating (Thanksgiving in the US), I’m ready for something a bit lighter.
Thank you for such a sweet post!
What an incredible looking dish, and I don’t mean the naked girl! You have certainly hit the spot for our climate, it’s cold and somewhat drizzly here in Toronto.
Naked girl would not have attracted my attention. We never got anything that interesting when I worked on the 53rd floor downtown!
LOL – That’s hillarious! I bet the word “naked” works much better and faster than “fire”, hahahaha. I love your recipe and I always look forward to try something new with rice!
Naked girl? Meh. Peanut butter? OH YES BABY.
This is one of my favorite combinations of flavors. Love it. I made it recently in a soupier version and it was a real hit! Sure, I probably would have looked, but only if I did’t have to go out of my way to do it.
This looks delicious!If only we had an African restaurant in Wollongong….
As for the naked, absolutely not-that’s the stuff of nightmares for me I’m afraid. Give me hijab any day of the week
Lorraine, Every day around lunch time I receive an e-mail notifications of a new post on your blog. Over this several months that I’ve had subscription, it became part of my life. Even if I am not at the computer at that moment, I see e-mail on my cell phone with a mental note: it’s about mid-afternoon, let’s check my to-do list. Then I reed the post, comment (if I am on the computer) and carry on with the daily routine. This is the only blog that triggers such action. Isn’t it funny how someone on the other part of the world becomes a significant part of your life?!
Love it, but without peanuts. I guess some other nuts will do, cashews maybe?
Now, what was the question? Oh yes, would I go to look? Not interested, but I would go look if there was an athletic male, probably, not completely naked though…
Lorraine, that stew is so inviting, and already with the spoon, I may dig in…
LOL! What a bizarre story! I can’t imagine taking my clothes off in full view of all those office workers.
I would have been curious so I probably would have looked but I would have much preferred to be eating this for lunch
looks delicious, i’ve made something similar.
might have to try that line one say to clear out the men hey?
Yummmm! African-style stews are so delicious, and the idea of a peanutty current running through the whole thing is making me drool. And it’s 7:30am. Well played, Miss Lorraine. Well played.
Why look at a naked girl if one can have a hot sexy african chicken and peanut stew….well, maybe for dessert hehe. Love your blog Lorraine.
I would look, for sure, great distraction from work:)
I would be really worried if an office full of people were staring at me and I wasn’t naked!
Never ever tried this dish, heard about it many times. One day…
Ooh this does look easy and tasty. I love the African spoon too.
Yes curiosity probably would have gotten the better of me I’d say.
Really simple and delicious looking! and NO I wouldn’t have gone and had a look at her…..
My goal is to prove that there are dishes that are better than sex but I’m not sure a naked woman at the pool would ever lose that contest.
I’d have looked.
Can’t wait to try this dish.
yum! I think even my super fussy husband who doesn’t really like chicken would like this. Will have to give it a go.
Of course I’d look, that’s not something you see every day!
If this week wasn’t so hot in Adelaide, I’d be making that delicious stew. I do hate that word though(stew)!
I own a Time-Life International Food Series book on African cooking and learned to make this quite a few decades ago: absolutely loved it, peanut butter calories and all! Your recipe is both simpler and, methinks, tastier
! Will be tried by the weekend! Great!! As far as the naked babe went: big deal, would not have bothered! Someone of the opposite gender, probably, if it was not too far to the window! And if I had the bod and felt comfortable to sunbake in the nude amidst highrise buildings, I would probably be disappointed not to get the attention 
!!!
I am a sucker for African and Moroccan stew style dishes my friend this looks fantastic
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
LOL I love it when you’re so pushy Lorraine
I’ve never heard of this West African Chicken but it sure looks and sounds up especially with the peanuts!
I’m not a fan of peanut butter it self but when it’s in a dish I usually like it hehe
I think lunch is more important and I’m not interested in a seeing a naked girl
HAHAHA
Have made this dish many times, too
Your photos are SO drool-able TRUE!
Is breakfast, but I WANT some NOW!
Thank you for sharing easily HOW!
Given a choice of naked woman or this stew!
Food wins out with FANG (my nickname) WHOO HOO!
Well, I can see a naked girl everyday (in the mirror) so there’s certainly no novelty there, but a good meal is ALWAYS worth rushing out for
I wouldn’t be terribly comfortable with an audience for sunbathing or devouring lunch either though!
My family has a huge love for satay, so this dish will be hugely popular- calories and all!
Just love your daily blogs Lorraine, always something funny to make me smile! Yet another fabulous recipe, definitely going to make this at the weekend. Enough to freeze for later me thinks!! Thanks for sharing this recipe.
What beautiful images of a mouthwatering looking curry – but such a shame you don’t have one of the naked girl! Some people are more comfortable with nudity and some countries are more comfortable with it as well. I’ve heard that on German cruise ships there are designated areas for nudists. But…not everyone should be walking around without their clothes – some look much better covered up! xx
A lunch like this always trumps naked people!
Love this stew – I love chicken satay with peanut sauce, so this is a must try!
Don’t really care much for the naked girl – but that beaded spoon is really cute!
The stew looks amazing as well. Is that just jasmine rice, or a special type?
I probably would have gone to look because I’m nosey
This chicken dish sounds and looks delicious….like the idea that it is simple and only requires a few steps…yes, I will definitely to cook more rice to go with this chicken
Thanks for sharing this recipe Lorraine and have a wonderful week!
oooh YUM. Scooped over some rice as you did…perfection. Would be lovely with almond butter too, I suspect.
Heidi xo
haha, love your random funny stories lorraine!
yep, i would have taken a squiz, but then promptly left for lunch – eating is a much more pressing issue.
this recipe makes me think i should eat chicken…
I never close my curtains. . . Not that I want the neighbour’s to see anything
What a funny story Lorraine and the reaction is so typical of most men I would imagine but then why not take a peek. The Europeans are so much more comfortable with nudity than most of us…good on them I say. What an interesting dish, the chicken not the sunbather that is, and one I would never have picked to do myself but yet I am definitely tempted, it does sound good and very different. That’s what I love about your blog, the funny ancedotes preceding the food story and the variance of your recipes and food experiences. Love it!!!
I wouldn’t have looked, and I certainly wouldn’t be naked where anyone could see me.
Oh I’m not touching this one. The stew looks and sounds delicious though. One to save up for when allergic Mr 11 is out of town.
I love the African tradition of soups and stews with peanut paste. I only pretty recently discovered them and find them really tasty. I definitely would have gone to take a look (in the office any distraction is welcome)!
Peanut butter’s protein so no problem with adding as much as I like! Definitely making this.
Hi Lorraine,
I am a long time reader of your blog but have never commented. Just wanted to let you know I made this for dinner tonight and it was delicious – compliments all round! Also made plenty of leftovers to freeze or take to work tomorrow for lunch. Thanks for the recipe!
Hi Sarah! I’m so pleased! Thanks so much for letting us know and I’m glad that everyone liked it
Have a lovely night!
Hi lorraine. Looks great. Will definitely try this. Why did you take out the coconut milk? Did you replace it with more stock? Also love the story of the naked girl…hahaha…the girls in my office enjoy the annual visit of the hunky abseiling window cleaning guys
That stew looks so rich – comfort food at its best (: I have never tried African cuisine so I shall bump this recipe up to the top of my list!
You sold me at Satay flavour!….and to ansewr your question – yes I would have looked but I think I would have been rather embarrased to see a whole office staring at me (and i am European!) This made me chuckle
HAHAHAHAHAHHA Naked Girl, and Chicken Stew! Only you’d make this combination work!
She’s super confident! I welcome any sort of distraction at work especially when it’s juicy like this
That said I’ve seen enough naked people in my previous job though mostly old people and the mentally disturbed. So umm……. nevermind that.
Chicken and Peanut Butter! Sounds to me like a big pot of chicken satay. Yum yum! The next time I get myself some peanut butter I’ll make this!
This looks delicious, Lorraine. Can you tell me how many sweet potatoes you used? I know you put in the ingredients •750g/26 ozs sweet potatoes, scrubbed, peeled and diced. However, I’m not quite sure how many that is.
Thanks.
all i really know about african cuisine is that peanut frequently make an appearance, and for that reason alone, i love african food!
What a delightful little story! Hmm I wonder how you make stew look so appetising! I feel like having some of this right now!
I have yet to try a west African chicken stew..but this looks like a lovely one pot meal.will give it a go sometime!
You had me at peanut butter.
Nah, I wouldn’t have gone to look… My ego couldn’t take it.
Hi Jaqi! I just took out the coconut milk as I didn’t feel that it needed the extra calories and I balanced the liquid. I did try it with added coconut milk and I preferred it without it
Ha! Now I might forego lunch too 
Hmm naked women and chicken stew? You sure managed to miraculously link those two stories up
The chicken stew looks amazing! Probably more of a cold weather dish for me though – not with the sudden heatwave we’ve been hit with!
What a flavorful and delicious looking dish! I would like to make this soon. It looks perfect for winter.
This looks delicious! Can you substitute pre-bought ground coriander? I don’t have a mortar and pestle. Thanks
Made it last night – very nice. But I did reduce the tomatoes by half and added coconut milk – lovely – just a hint of coconut taste!!!
My boyfriend is from west Africa and he insisted I make Mafé. I love this dish.
Ummmm…this reminds me some dishes we used to prepare hee with peanuts: “Picante de Cuy” and “Patitas con Mani”.
I guess you know know about the first one, it’s done with guinea pig and the peanut stew. The other is made with pork feet (I don’t like it)
Hi Mnm! I’m sure you could use it
Thanks for letting us know Hilly! I’m so glad that you liked it and good to know that you can play with the flavours
How beautiful! and I bet it is delicious too! I have to save this recipe!
I hate to say that I found this recipe extremely bland… I was really looking forward to making it, and was disappointed by the lack of flavor =(
Hi Caroline. I’m quite surprised that you called it bland, to me it was totally packed full of flavour. Did you season it at all? Sorry to hear that you didn’t like it. Many people have tried it and liked it but I guess you can’t please everyone
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