Bowl of Cassava in Coconut Sauce
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Cassava in Coconut Sauce


Africa: Tanzania, Kenya   -   Muhogo wa Nazi

Makes:
Effort:
Sched:
DoAhead:  
2 #
***
1-1/3 hrs
Yes
A very fine and substantial side dish, lunch, or vegetarian main dish from the Swahili coast. Much used as an Iftar dish by the Muslims of Zanzibar, Tanzania, and Mombasa, Kenya.

1
1
1/8
1/4
ar
-----
7
1
1/4
1
1/2
14
1
1/2

#
cl
t
t

---
oz

c

T
oz
T
t

Cassava Root (1)
Garlic
Turmeric
Salt
Water
------------
Tomato
Jalalpeño Chili
Cilantro
Red Chili (2)
Lime Juice
Coconut Milk (3)  
Oil
Salt

Prep   -   (30 min)
  1. Peel CASSAVA and cut into about 3/4 inch cubes. Place in a saucepan.
  2. Crush 1 cl GARLIC, chop very fine and pound to paste. Mix into Cassava, along with Turmeric, salt, and Water to just cover.
  3. Scald TOMATO one minute in boiling water. Quench in cold water and peel. Chop very small.
  4. Cap and core JALAPEÑO, leaving in membranes so you have a little heat. Chop very small and add to Tomato.
  5. Chop CILANTRO coarse. Set aside half of it for Garnish.
  6. Cap and core RED CHILI. Cut into threads for Garnish.
  7. Squeeze Lime Juice (or Lemon Juice).
Run   -   (50 min)
  1. Place pan of Cassava on the stove and bring to a boil. Simmer covered until tender (about 20 min after boiling). Drain.
  2. When Cassava is done:   In a spacious sauté pan or saucepan, heat Oil. Stir in Tomato mix and fry stirring for about 3 minutes.
  3. Stir in cooked Cassava and Coconut Milk. Bring to a simmer, and simmer 10 minutes - watch closely, coconut milk will foam up fiercely at a boil.
  4. Adjust liquidity with boiling water if needed, it shouldn't be too thick.
  5. Stir in 1/2 t Salt and Cilantro, (but not the half reserved for Garnish). Simmer slowly another 5 minutes.
  6. Stir in Lime Juice and take off the heat.
  7. Serve hot, garnished with Cilantro and Chili Threads
NOTES:
  1. Cassava:

      This root is highly perishable. Buy from a market with a strong Latin American customer base. It should be heavy, and have no soft spots whatever - check carefully, For details see our Cassava / Manioc / Yuca page.
  2. Red Chili:

      The fresh red chili used by every ethnicity here in Southern California is the Red Fresno, which is also becoming available in parts of Europe. Cored with the membranes removed it has very little heat.
  3. Coconut Milk:

      It is very important to use a high quality unsweetened Coconut Milk with plenty of cream. Aroy-D brand from Thailand is very fine, but some other Thai brands may work well. Coconut milk from other countries often disappoints.
  4. U.S. measure: t=teaspoon, T=Tablespoon, c=cup, qt=quart, oz=ounce, #=pound, cl=clove in=inch, ar=as required tt=to taste
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