Okra is one of my favorite vegetables. How many times have I shared okra recipes? Very often, and always with fufu. What else?
For those unfamiliar with okra, here's a brief explanation: Okra (botanically Hibiscus esculentus, Abelmoschus esculentus ) is also known as gombo or ladies' fingers (due to its shape, which resembles a woman's finger), or in some regions as vegetable hibiscus . It's a vegetable from the mallow family, related to foléré . Originally from Ethiopia, this wonderful vegetable was cultivated thousands of years ago by the Egyptians along the Nile and highly valued for its excellent properties. Okra spread from Africa to the rest of the world and is now grown almost everywhere.
Okra as a video
To the fufu
What exactly is fufu, or foufou? The answer depends on where you are. In West Africa, fufu is a dumpling-like side dish (according to Wikipedia, a porridge). It can be made from maize, cassava, yams, or plantains. In Cameroon, fufu/foufou often refers to a kneadable dumpling made from cassava. In Cameroon, the term couscous is often used instead of fufu/fufu. Therefore, it's often called couscous de cassava, or simply fufu/foufou. Fufu/foufou also refers to the flour from which fufu dumplings are made. This flour is produced from fermented, then dried, and finally ground cassava roots. Fufu flour has many health benefits, including being a good alternative for people with gluten intolerance. Fufu flour is naturally gluten-free. In terms of processing and consistency, fufu is very similar to wheat flour.
The Fufu as a video
Et voilà! Bon appétit!
Okra sauce with beef, smoked chicken, and shrimp
Ingredients
- 300g fresh okra vegetable
- 800g smoked chicken
- 200g shrimp
- 100 ml cooking oil
- 300 g chopped tomatoes (canned or fresh)
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 large onion
- 1 tsp garlic paste or 5 cloves of garlic
- 3 Habanero or Scotch bonnet chili
- 2 tbsp Magic Sauce
- Salt
- 800 ml water
For fufu
- approx. 300 g semolina
- Approximately 1 liter of water
- 2 tsp potato flour
Instructions
- Cut the smoked chicken into pieces, rinse briefly with cold water and set aside.
- Dice the tomatoes and onions. Then, in a pot with cooking oil, add the onions, garlic paste, and salt and sauté for about 2 minutes
- Then add the tomato paste and diced tomatoes, stir well and simmer covered over medium heat for about 5 minutes
- Meanwhile, wash the okra pods, cut off the ends, roughly chop the rest, and roughly chop it in a chopper/mixer without water, then add it to the pot
- Add the magic sauce, water, chicken pieces and whole chili pepper, mix well and simmer covered for about 5 minutes
- Then add the shrimp and cook, covered, for another 5 minutes. Towards the end of the cooking time, add another spoonful of Magic Sauce, mix well, season to taste, and keep warm.
Durum wheat semolina fufu
- Pour approximately 600ml of hot water from a kettle into a saucepan and set the stove to medium heat. Using a whisk, continuously stir the semolina into the hot water until a smooth dough forms
- Mix about 50ml of cold water with a tablespoon of potato starch in a small cup and add to the hot semolina dough, kneading well with a fufu stick or a wooden spoon.
- Pour in the remaining water, reduce the heat by one level, cover, and simmer for about 3 minutes. Then knead well again until the desired consistency is reached.
- Form small round balls using a key, serve in a bowl with okra sauce and enjoy hot
