Kpwem (Feuilles de Manioc)

Kpwem (Kpem, Kwem, Pkuem) — a soup, sauce, or purée de manioc from Southern Cameroon — is Cameroon's entry on the Central African menu of dishes made from greens, peanuts, and palm oil. Kpwem is made from feuilles de manioc (cassava, or manioc, leaves). Young, tender leaves, from the most recent growth of the plant, are the most desirable. Feuilles de manioc are available in markets all over tropical Central Africa, and are even exported to Europe and America where they are sold in African groceries and served in African restaurants.

What you need

six cups water
one or two onions, chopped
two cloves of garlic, minced
one hot chile pepper, cleaned and chopped
one teaspoon fresh ginger root, grated
salt to taste
two to three pounds of cassava (manioc) leaves -- or substitute other greens; stems removed, washed, rinsed and drained, torn into pieces
three cups canned palm soup base or palm nut pulp (canned, also called "sauce graine" or "noix de palme" or homemade moambé or nyembwe sauce)
three tablespoons homemade peanut paste (or natural unsweetened peanut butter)

What you do

Crush the cassava leaves (or other substituted greens) with a mortar and pestle, or mash them with the bottom of a sturdy bottle in a heavy bowl.
In a large cooking pot, bring the water to a low boil. Add the onion, garlic, ginger root, and salt. Cook for a few minutes.
Add the crushed greens and cook, bring to a boil, and cook for ten minutes more.
Add the canned palm soup base (or palm nut pulp), and stir until smooth. Reduce heat and simmer for ten minutes.
Add the peanut butter, stir. (The easiest way is to mix the peanut butter with a few tablespoons of very hot water, then add this mixture to the greens.)
Continue to simmer until greens are cooked to your liking. Serve hot.
Kpwem is usually served with Baton de Manioc, but could also be served with boiled Rice, Yams, or Plantains.

The multiple (but similar) names by which kpwem is known are a result of Cameroon's many languages and the irregular application of the Latin alphabet by German, French, and British colonial authorities.

Search this website:

Congo Cookbook recipes using Greens

Also see: Recipes by Ingredient

The Congo Cookbook PDF file - It takes time and money to keep The Congo Cookbook on the world wide web. You can help via the Amazon Honor System. Amazon.com forwards your gift to The Congo Cookbook; you remain anonymous. As a thank-you for any donation you will be able to obtain the downloadable Congo Cookbook PDF file, which contains all of the recipes displayed on the website. For more information, see the Frequently Asked Questions.

Amazon.com Search Now: