Fétri Dessi (Togolese Okra Sauce with Beef and Shrimp)
Local name: Fétri dessi
In short: A slippery, savory okra sauce cooked with beef, smoked fish, shrimp and palm oil, ladled over maize dough, rice or pounded yam. It takes about 1 h 35 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 1 h 10 min
- Total
- 1 h 35 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 340 kcal
Fétri dessi is Togo's okra sauce, one of the most common in the country. Finely chopped okra gives the sauce its signature silky, slippery texture, which is the point of the dish. Beef, smoked fish and shrimp add flavor, and red palm oil adds richness and color. It is served over akoumé (maize dough), rice or pounded yam, and eaten by hand with the starch scooping up the sauce.
Instructions
- Put the beef, one chopped onion, 1/2 tsp salt and 700 ml water in a pot. Cover and simmer for 40 minutes until the beef is nearly tender.
- Heat the palm oil in a wide pot over medium heat. Chop the second onion and cook it for 5 minutes, then add the blended tomato and chili and cook for 8 minutes.
- Add the beef with its broth, the okra and the smoked fish. Stir well, cover and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring now and then, until the sauce thickens and turns silky.
- Add the shrimp and the remaining salt. Cook for 4 minutes until the shrimp are pink and opaque.
- Taste, adjust the salt and serve hot over rice, akoumé or pounded yam.
Tips
- The slippery texture is normal and welcome. If you want it less slimy, chop the okra larger and cook it for a shorter time, with a few drops of lemon juice.
- Frozen sliced okra works well and saves time. Add it straight from the freezer.
Questions and answers
Why is okra sauce slippery?
Okra contains a natural gel that thickens as it cooks. It is the signature texture of the sauce and helps it cling to maize dough or rice.
Can I make it without shrimp or fish?
Yes. Use more beef, or leave out the seafood and add a stock cube. It will taste less deep but still good.
What do you serve with fétri dessi?
Akoumé is traditional, but rice, boiled yam, cassava or plantain work well too.
How long does it take to make Fétri Dessi (Togolese Okra Sauce with Beef and Shrimp)?
About 1 h 35 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 1 h 10 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Fétri Dessi (Togolese Okra Sauce with Beef and Shrimp)?
About 340 kcal per serving, with 29 g of protein, 12 g of carbohydrates and 19 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 340 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 29 g |
| Carbohydrates | 12 g |
| Fat | 19 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Sodium | 750 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
