Banku with okra stew

Method

1. 1

   Step 1

   Heat the palm oil (opens in a new tab) and fry the onion (opens in a new tab) until soft. Add the blended tomatoes (opens in a new tab) and chilli and cook until thick, about 10 minutes.

   • 13 min
   • medium heat
   • Dutch oven / casserole pot (opens in a new tab)

   

2. 2

   Step 2

   Add the water, fish and salt and simmer gently for 8 minutes, then add the okra (opens in a new tab) and shrimp (opens in a new tab) and simmer 5–6 minutes until the okra is just tender and the stew is slippery.

   • 14 min
   • medium-low heat

   Food safety: Cook fish and shrimp until opaque throughout.

   

3. 3

   Step 3

   For the banku, whisk the cornmeal (opens in a new tab), cassava flour (opens in a new tab), lime juice (opens in a new tab) and salt into the cold water in a heavy pot until smooth.

   • 3 min
   • Saucepan (opens in a new tab)

   

4. 4

   Step 4

   Cook over medium heat, stirring and paddling hard with a wooden spoon, as it thickens into a stiff, smooth dough. Lower the heat, cover and cook 5 minutes, then paddle again.

   • 15 min
   • medium heat

   Press the dough against the side of the pot to work out lumps.

5. 5

   Step 5

   Wet a small bowl, scoop in portions of banku and roll into smooth balls. Serve with the okra (opens in a new tab) stew.

   • 3 min