Guinean Peanut Sauce with Butternut Squash Recipe

Place the butternut squash in a saucepan with water to cover. Bring to a boil and then simmer covered until the squash is tender about 20 minutes. Drain reserving the cooking liquid.

Combine the peanut butter tomato and warm water in a bowl. The authentic way to prepare this is to squish it together by hand -- but a food processor works too.

Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot add the onion slices and cook for 2 minutes. Add the peanut butter mixture the minced garlic the bay leaf black pepper and about 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir to combine then bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat to low and simmer the peanut sauce adding the reserved cooking liquid as needed for 15 minutes. The consistency should be similar to a thick soup.

Stir in the butternut squash and simmer for an additional 15 minutes. Add the lemon juice and taste to adjust the seasoning.