Pilé de pommes , or simply Pilé, is a simple yet delicious dish made with mashed potatoes, red or black beans, and palm oil. This time, I deliberately chose black beans, as I rarely cook with this type of bean and because the original recipe supposedly calls for it. The ingredients for this dish are truly affordable for almost everyone, which is why I would categorize it as "poor people's food."
Beans are among the most popular and important foods in Cameroon and throughout West Africa, as they grow relatively everywhere and are therefore inexpensive. Furthermore, bean dishes are not only very healthy and rich in protein, but they are also incredibly filling. Since Pilé, in its original form, is prepared entirely without animal products, the dish is particularly ideal for a vegan, yet still protein-rich diet.
Of course, there's also a slightly modified version with majanga (dried crayfish). If you like the taste of majanga, feel free to add the crayfish to your pilé. I've already published a post about this under the title "Pilé - Mashed Potatoes with Red Beans ."
In many regions of Cameroon, pilé is also prepared with plantains instead of potatoes, either green or light yellow, depending on preference. The plantain version is also very tasty. The light yellow plantains, in particular, lend the dish a subtle sweetness, giving the pilé a very special flavor.
Whether with potatoes or plantains, red or black beans, with or without manjanga, this dish is prepared in a flash and is a crowd-pleaser. It can be served as either an appetizer or a main course. Legend has it that it only develops its full flavor overnight. This is referred to as "un vieux goût ," which translates roughly as "a more mature/intense flavor ." Unfortunately, I can't confirm this theory, as no Pilé has ever lasted that long in my house.
the recipe for Pilé de Plantain here soon, I promise you that. Until then, try this one, you certainly won't regret it. Enjoy!
As a video...
Pile de pommes | Mashed potatoes with palm oil
Ingredients
- 1 kg potatoes (preferably waxy)
- 400g black beans (or canned beans)
- 1 small onion
- approx. 100 ml palm oil
- 1-2 fresh chili pepper or habanero
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- For fresh beans, wash the beans beforehand, cook them in plenty of water and salt, then rinse them well with cold water and set aside
- Peel the potatoes, cut them into small pieces and bring them to a boil in water with a pinch of salt.
- Meanwhile, peel and finely chop the onions, then briefly sauté the palm oil in a saucepan with the onion, salt, and chili pepper
- Now remove the cooked potatoes from the oven, drain any remaining water, mash the potatoes using a potato masher, add the cooked beans and mix well
- First, remove the habanero pepper from the oil, then gradually add the palm oil, mixing well each time
- Taste and add more salt if needed. Arrange on a plate with or without the habanero and enjoy lukewarm
Notes
Bon appetite!
Fadi
