Africa: Zambia: Zambian Cibwabwa (Pumpkin Leaves in a Peanut Sauce)
INGREDIENTS:
180 g (3 cups) pounded groundnuts
1.25 g (1/4 teaspoon) bishikisa/bicarbonate of soda (optional)
11.36 g (2 teaspoons) salt
1 1/2 cups water
3 medium sized tomatoes
1 large onion
a bundle of fresh chibwabwa/pumpkin leaves
INSTRUCTIONS:
Pumpkin leaves are covered in fibers which need to be removed. Holding the leaf upside down, pull gently all the fiber from the tip of the stalk down to the back of the leaf
Repeat on all the leaves until you have de-strunged a good pile of them
Dice tomatoes and onions
Cut chibwabwa/pumpkin leaves and stalks into medium sized strips
On medium high heat, place a sauce pan and add water to it
To the water, add salt and soda
Bring water to a boil
Add chibwabwa/pumpkin leaves to the boiling water
Cover sauce pan with a lid and allow it to boil for 10 minutes approximately
Stir and add cut tomatoes on top of the veggies and boil for about 4 minutes, covered (do not stir after adding tomatoes)
Add pounded groundnuts on top of the tomatoes and boil for 11 minutes approximately (do not stir)
Thereafter, add the onions. At this point, you can now stir.
Cook for about 15 minutes on medium heat or until the peanut sauce is cooked thoroughly.
Correct seasoning (salt) if necessary
Simmer for a few minutes
Serve it hot with nshima or any starch of your choice
Enjoy!
