Godwin Ihentuge

Flavors of the African diaspora continue to permeate menus, as evidenced by Yum Village, an Afro-Caribbean concept, where the Maafe Peanut Stew is center stage across the menu. It can be ordered as a stand-alone; with the addition of chicken or oxtails; over jollof rice with a black-eyed pea fritter and corn cakes in the Elder Village Combo; and over fries in the Afro-Caribbean-Style Poutine (pictured). “We can throw quite a few menu items out there without straying too far from our flavor profiles,” says Godwin Ihentuge, Yum Village Co-Founder, adding that “the ease of prep is insane” and the affordability of peanuts is a big plus to the bottom line.

Here, the Maafe is prepared with a mirepoix of onion, garlic, Cameroon pepper, habanero and tomato. Roasted carrot and squash are added for a sweet component, then peanut butter is folded into the mixture. The stew is slow-cooked until the peanut oils separate from the mixture. “Maafe has a savory, life-changing flavor and is very aromatic,” says Ihentuge. “The combination with peanuts makes it earthy, rich and intoxicating. It’s downright addicting.”