CAMEROONIAN RECIPES (NDOLE)

Ndole is one very delicious meal. It is very tasty, healthy, and has a lot of  nutritional values. Ndole is one of the top favorite foods in Cameroon, and is always present at parties. It is an earthy combination of peanut, greens, seafoods, crayfish and traditionally, bitter leaf.

Ingredients

• 2-4 cups fresh or dried bitter leaf

• 2 cups fresh shrimp
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 6 tomatoes, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme
  
• 2 teaspoon of fresh ginger root, finely minced (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon rosemary
• Green bell pepper, chopped
• Salt, red pepper and black pepper (to taste)
• 4 cups of chicken broth
• 2 pounds dried, 2 cups peanut butter
• Chopped onion
• Chillie pepper, chopped
• Palm oil  

Cooking Direction

1.    Wash the bitter leaf in a clean water, and then chop it into pieces.

2.    Marinate the shrimp for a few hours in a paste made from half the minced ginger, half the chopped onion, and a little oil.

3.    Soak the pounds dried in water for a few hours. Cut into pieces and remove any skin or bones.

4.    Heat a few tablespoons of oil in a large pot and fry the remaining onions, garlic, ginger, rosemary and thyme for a few minutes. Then add the tomatoes and reduce heat to a simmer for several minutes.

5.    Add the bitter leaf to the pot. Stir and simmer for several minutes more. 

  6.    Add peanut butter and hot water. Stir and continue to cook the soup at a simmer.

  7.    Add the green pepper, and any hot chillie pepper, salt and red or black pepper you think it needs. Cover the pot and continue to cook over low heat.

8.    When the greens seem tender, heat oil in a skillet and stir fry the shrimp (or prawns) along with their marinade. Add them to the soup. 

9.    Cook for a while, adding water or stock if desired, until it is the consistency you like, and then it is ready to serve.