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Poulet a la Moambe is a savory chicken stew with strong African flavors such as nutmeg and peanut butter. This dish is popular in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is usually eaten with cooked white rice.
Sauces to mix with the ingredients above can be made with tomatoes, onions, and the local aromatic herbs. Vegetable oil, together with salt, hot red chili pepper, and sweet green pepper are used to impart extra flavor. These spices are less frequently used in the far south.
Poulet à la Moambe is one of the most important traditional dishes of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is widely regarded as a national dish across Central Africa. The defining ingredient of the dish is moambe sauce, traditionally made from palm nut pulp, which gives the stew its rich, earthy flavor and deep color. In some modern or regional variations, peanut butter is used to enrich the sauce or complement the palm-based flavors. The dish reflects the agricultural foundations of Congolese cuisine, where palm oil, nuts, aromatic spices, and slow-cooked stews are central to everyday meals. Historically, Poulet à la Moambe developed as a communal dish prepared for families and gatherings, served with neutral starches such as white rice to balance its bold, savory profile. Today, it remains a cornerstone of Congolese food culture and a symbol of the region’s culinary identity.