Gboma Dessi and Akoume (Togolese Spinach Stew with Corn Swallow)

• 5 tablespoons palm oil or vegetable oil
• 3 medium size onions, thinly sliced
• 3 medium size garlic cloves, finely minced
• 2 tablespoon ginger powder (optional)
• 3 lb meat, cut into large cubes
• Salt to taste
• 2 hot pepper, neatly chopped
• 3 crushed chicken bouillon cubes
• Gbotemi spice blend (cloves, aniseed, ajwain, and cardamom, toasted and ground with ginger powder)
• 1 lb spinach
• 1 can (14 oz) tomato paste
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup corn flour
• 1½ cup all purpose flour
• ¼ cup potato starch

Ingredients for 12 servings (3.8 kg) · the original recipeShow how each ingredient was counted

Method

1. 1

   Gboma dessi: Put a pressure cooker on the fire and pour some oil into it. Add and sauté some of the sliced onions, minced garlic, and ginger powder for 2 minutes.

   Pressure cooker
2. 2

   Add the meat, hot pepper, 2 bouillon cubes, and salt to taste. Add enough water to slightly cover the meat. Reduce the heat and cook for about 40 minutes or more, depending on the meat and the pressure cooker.

   Pressure cooker
3. 3

   While the meat is cooking, wash the spinach leaves and boil in salted water for 15 minutes. Then, drain and cut into thin slices.

   Stovetop
4. 4

   Remove the meat from the pressure cooker, drain it and put it in a bowl. Keep the broth in the pot.

   Pressure cooker
5. 5

   Season the meat with the gbotemi spice blend.

6. 6

   Sauté the remaining onions and garlic cloves in a saucepan with the remaining palm oil or vegetable oil.

   Stovetop
7. 7

   Add the tomato paste, and cook, stirring regularly for at least 10 minutes. Season with the remaining bouillon cube and hot pepper, then stir in the reserved broth. Boil over medium heat for 25 minutes.

   Stovetop
8. 8

   Add spinach then the meat. Simmer for at least 15 minutes, then remove from the heat.

   Stovetop
9. 9

   Akoume: Pour 2 cups of water in a saucepan. Add the corn flour and mix with a wooden spoon.

   Stovetop
10. 10

    When the water boils, add the all purpose flour and stir vigorously.

11. 11

    Dilute the starch potato in 1 cup of water and pour into the pan.

12. 12

    Stir vigorously for 3 minutes, then cover the pot and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes.

    Stovetop
13. 13

    Once the dough is ready, you can shape it to any form of your desire.

14. 14

    Serve the gboma dessi on top of this akoume in a banana leaf, or serve the gboma dessi on the side of the akoume in a big plate.