Cassava Leaf Stew – A Popular and Delicious African Recipe
Cassava leaf stew is a delicious and rich savory dish made with crushed cassava leaves, goat meat, and many additional seasoning ingredients. It is easy to make and pairs well with other African accompaniments.
Today, we will look at exactly how to cook cassava leaf stew from scratch. My recipe uses the best professional practices to develop and enhance the flavors of each ingredient. It is a lengthy process, but one that is well worth the effort!
What Is Cassava Leaf Stew?
The cassava plant (aka yuca) is native to South America. Likely, they were the first to make any cassava stew using these leaves.
However, cassava leaves are very popular in African countries as well and are considered an essential part of African cuisine.
There are a ton of additional ingredients you could add to this recipe. These include smoked fish, tilapia, crayfish powder, and oxtail. I tried to make my recipe with easy-to-find ingredients that are equally tasty.
Must-Have Ingredients for Stew Recipe
I love using goat meat. It is hard to find in some areas, but I don’t make this recipe without it. If you want to, you could use oxtail instead.
Then, you obviously need cassava leaves. These leaves are relatively easy to find. They usually come frozen and crushed. If you do manage to get any fresh ones, crush them in a blender before adding them to your stew.
And finally, another unique ingredient I add is ogiri. Ogiri is a type of flavoring that is made from fermented and often roasted sesame seeds. So, you can roast white sesame seeds as a substitution if you cannot find ogiri.
The remaining ingredients of cassava leaf stew are all easy to find and relatively affordable.
Important Steps to Consider
To be completely honest with you, the way I make my African goat and cassava leaf stew takes a lot more time than most other recipes. But, that is for a good reason.
My technique allows each ingredient’s flavor to fully develop before you mix it with the rest of the stew.
For example, browning the meat first allows the delicious savory flavors of the meat to develop and caramelize. This step is crucial in obtaining the richness of the meat, otherwise the soup will be bland.
The same goes for ingredients like garlic, ginger, and chili. Cooking them over dry higher heat allows them to release their flavors.
So, first, brown all of the ingredients and allow them to blend together. Then add the cassava leaves and water.
FAQs
Where did cassava leaf stew originate?
As I mentioned before, it is likely that the stew originated in Southern America, where the root first originated. However, today cassava leaf is mainly associated with African cuisine.
What do you serve with cassava leaf stew?
Because there isn’t an exact country this recipe originated from, you can serve this cassava stew with any accompaniment from African cuisine. Swallows are some of my favorites because of how easy they are to make and how neutral their flavor is.
What does African cassava leaf soup taste like?
This cassava leaf stew has a very unique and complex flavor profile. It is very savory and has a ton of umami flavors. The umami profiles come from the ogiri (fermented sesame seeds).
The cassava leaves themselves add a delicious herbaceous flavor that is slightly bitter. But, the rest of the seasoning ingredients help balance it out.
How long should you boil cassava leaves?
If you place them inside a pot and cover them with boiling water, they will be ready to eat or use in about 10 minutes.
If you don’t cook cassava leaves well they remain tough and chewy. For my cassava leaf and goat stew recipe, I cook them for well over 20 minutes to ensure they are softened.
If you want to try some other African recipes
How To Cook Cassava Leaf Stew – An Easy And Versatile Recipe
Ingredients
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- 1 pound goat stewing meat
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 scotch bonnet peppers, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp dried mixed herbs
- 2 tbsp ogiri, optional
- 1 tbsp garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tsp ginger, grated
- 1 cup beef stock
- 5 tbsp smooth peanut butter
- 2 pounds cassava leaves, crushed
- Boiling water
- 1/4 cup palm nut oil
Instructions
- To start, brown your goat meat. It will help give the cassava leaf stew a much more meaty flavor. Heat some oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Then, season the meat and place it in your pan. Fry it for about 2-3 minutes per side until all the sides are brown. Remove the meat from the pan and set it aside for later.
- Next, add a tablespoon of oil to a large pot and place it over medium heat. Add the diced onion and allow it to saute for 3-5 minutes or until translucent.
- Next, add your chopped peppers, herbs, ogiri, garlic, and ginger. Give these ingredients a good stir to ensure you mix them well. Allow them to fry for about 2 minutes.
- Then, add the meat and mix it in well. Place a lid on top of it and allow the ingredients to cook for about 5 minutes. The goat meat will release some juices as it cooks. Stir every 5 minutes to prevent the mixture from burning.
- After 10 minutes, add 1 cup of beef stock to the pot. Scrape the sides of the pot to help dissolve the meat juices. It will go back into the stew and help add more flavor.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer and allow it to cook for another 5 minutes.
- Then, add the smooth peanut butter and mix it in well.
- Finally, add the crushed cassava leaves. Break them apart with your spoon or spatula. Add 1 cup of boiling water at a time. Mix well between each addition to accurately determine how much water you need to add. Only add boiling water until it just covers the ingredients.
- Place a lid on the pot and allow the cassava leaf stew to simmer on the lowest heat setting for 15 minutes.
- After 15 minutes, add the palm oil and mix it well. Then, place the lid back on the pot and cook it for another 25 minutes.
- Finally, you can season the cassava leaf stew with salt and pepper to your liking. Your stew is ready once the cassava leaves are soft and the goat meat is soft and tender.
