Pondu, Cassava Leaves Stew

If you are looking for something new to try, let us take a trip to the Congo and  check out this vegetable suace, using simple ingredients. Pondu is something to try!

Pondu is cassava leaf stew. Cassava is a common staple across most of Africa. It is no wonder then, that the leaves could form the base of this sauce and many others.

Cassava leaves is commonly used in the community I grew up in. So, this is entirely new to me until recently. However it reminded me of Afang soup which is popular in Nigeria. Pondu is cooked slightly differently, but with similar ingredients. 

Cassava Stew is a Congolese favourite, served with fufu, rice, yam, potato or plantain.

What Is Pondu

Pondu is one of  Congolese favourite dishes made from cassava leaves, peppers, fish or meat, palm oil and cooked to a gentle simmer until vegetables are tender.

What Does Cassava Leaves Taste Like?

They have a mild taste not spicy both tough like kale and may take longer to cook until tender, than most other leaves.

How To Cook Cassave leaves?

The main ingredient, fresh cassava leaves may not be available outside of Africa. For this recipe, i will be using the frozen one. In my local African food shop, they come in about 1kg bag. I used half of the bag.

Cassava leaf soup

Servings: 6-8

Prep Time: 20min

Cooking Time: 45min- 1hour

Ingredients

  • 5oog frozen cassava leaves
  • 1 cup of palm oil
  • 2 bell peppers, finely chopped
  • 1 bunch of spring onion, chopped
  • 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 6-8 pieces of grilled chicken thighs
  • 1 large smoked fish, deboned and thoroughly cleaned
  • 500ml chicken stock
  • salt to taste

Method

Thaw the frozen cassava and rinse thoroughly in a colander under running water. Squeeze out excess liquid. Transfer in a pot.

Pour in the stock and add rest of ingredients to the pot.

Bring everything to a boil under medium heat cooking for about fifteen minutes then, reduce heat to simmer for the rest of the time until vegetables are tender.

Adjust salt to taste and serve with fufu, rice, yam, potato or plantain.

Store leftover in the fridge and consume within five days.

Recipe provided by www.AfricanFoods.co.uk

Are Cassava Leaves Safe To Eat?

Cassava stewPondu is cassava stew.

Raw cassava roots, tubers and leaves contain cyanide and large amounts of this are poisonous and could be fatal.

However, when thoroughly cooked, they are safe. So, never eat them raw.

The idea is similar to eating raw meat versus cook. Raw meat could cause food poisoning however when meat is cooked, they generally safe for most people.

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