Dambou (Nigerien Steamed Couscous with Moringa)
In short: Fine couscous steamed twice and tossed with boiled moringa leaves, raw onion, chili and peanut oil. A festive dish of southern Niger. It takes about 1 h 10 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 40 min
- Total
- 1 h 10 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 375 kcal
Dambou is a festive dish of southern Niger, served at weddings, naming ceremonies and other gatherings. Fine grains of millet, rice or wheat are steamed until fluffy, then mixed with boiled moringa leaves, raw onion, hot chili and a splash of peanut oil. Grilled meat or dried fish is served beside it. The mix is light, green and savory, with the sharpness of raw onion against the soft grains.
Instructions
- Put the couscous in a wide bowl. Dissolve 1/2 tsp of the salt in the warm water, sprinkle it over the grains and rub them gently between your fingers. Leave for 10 minutes.
- Bring 3 cm (1 in) of water to a boil under a steamer lined with a clean cloth. Spread the couscous on the cloth, cover and steam for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, boil the moringa leaves in salted water for 5 minutes (spinach needs only 2 minutes). Drain well, squeeze out the water and chop finely.
- Tip the hot couscous into a bowl and fluff it with a fork to break any lumps.
- Fold in the leaves, onion, chilies, ground peanuts, oil and the remaining 1/2 tsp salt until everything is evenly mixed.
- Return to the steamer for 5 minutes to warm through. Taste for salt and serve hot, with a spicy pepper sauce if you like.
Tips
- Fresh moringa leaves can be found at African and Asian markets. Frozen moringa or fresh spinach are good substitutes, or use 2 tbsp dried moringa powder.
- For a gluten-free dambou, use millet couscous or steamed rice flour grains instead of wheat couscous.
Questions and answers
What does dambou taste like?
It is light, savory and slightly grassy from the moringa. The raw onion and chili add sharpness, and peanut oil gives it a nutty finish.
Can I make dambou ahead of time?
Yes. Keep it covered in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheat it in a steamer or microwave with a splash of water.
What do you serve with dambou?
A spicy pepper sauce, sliced tomatoes or fried plantain go well with it. It is also good on its own as a light meal.
How long does it take to make Dambou (Nigerien Steamed Couscous with Moringa)?
About 1 h 10 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 40 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Dambou (Nigerien Steamed Couscous with Moringa)?
About 375 kcal per serving, with 11 g of protein, 50 g of carbohydrates and 14 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 375 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 11 g |
| Carbohydrates | 50 g |
| Fat | 14 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 2 g |
| Sodium | 580 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
