A Tasty Congolese Relish with Manioc Leaves – Isombe y’umwamba

The following recipe – ‘Manioc leaves with crushed palm oil kernels‘ – is popular throughout central Africa and combines three of the most important local ingredients – manioc leaves, fresh oil from palm nuts, and ground nuts.

Here are the ingredients – quantities are pretty much up to you:

Fresh manioc leaves –

Oil palm nuts –

Fresh peanuts –

Leeks –

Garlic –

Palm oil –

Red pepper –

Salt –

 

Preparation requires a bit of work. First, you must collect a basket of tender manioc leaves:

Then, you need to pound the manioc leaves into a paste, like this:

In the meantime, send your menfolk off to collect a bunchor two of fresh palm nuts:

You prepare the oil palm nuts by removing the flesh from the kernels and pounding it – then, you squeeze the crushed fibers between your hands, using the liquid, but…