Madesu
A red kidney bean stew whose name is simply the Lingala word for beans, a genuine everyday staple across Kinshasa and the wider Lingala-speaking region of DR Congo, also called maharagi in Swahili-speaking parts of the country. Real households vary it meaningfully: some cook it in palm oil, others add ginger or chile, and a piece of smoked meat or fish is a common but optional addition for depth, genuinely distinct from the site's existing Poulet Moambe since this is a legume stew rather than a palm-nut chicken dish. It's most often served as madesu na loso, beans and rice, or alongside fried plantain.
Vegan-optionalMeat-optional
⚠ Contains: Fish. Always check your own ingredients — this isn't a guarantee for severe allergies.
Ingredients
- 2 cups red kidney beans, soaked overnight
- 1/4 cup palm oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- 1 tbsp ginger, minced
- 1 chile, minced
- 150g smoked fish or meat (optional)
- Salt, to taste
- A handful of cassava leaves or other greens (optional, a common addition)
Steps
- Boil the soaked beans in fresh water until tender, about 1 hour.
- In a separate pan, heat the palm oil and sauté the onion until softened.
- Add the tomatoes, ginger, and chile, and cook down into a thick base.
- Stir in the cooked beans and smoked fish or meat if using, and simmer 15-20 minutes to combine flavors.
- Season with salt and serve with rice or fried plantain.