Gboma Dessi (Togolese Spinach Stew with Beef and Smoked Fish)
Local name: Gboma dessi
In short: Leafy greens simmered with beef, smoked fish, tomato and chili in red palm oil. A rich, deep green Togolese stew served over rice or maize dough. It takes about 1 h 40 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 1 h 15 min
- Total
- 1 h 40 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 400 kcal
Gboma dessi is one of Togo's best-known sauces, a green stew made from gboma, a bitter-sweet leafy vegetable, cooked with tomato, onion and chili. Beef and smoked fish go in for depth, and red palm oil gives the sauce its richness. Spinach is the usual substitute outside West Africa. Serve it with rice, akoumé (maize dough) or boiled yam, and let everyone add chili sauce at the table.
Instructions
- Chop one onion and put it with the beef, 1/2 tsp salt and 750 ml water in a pot. Cover and simmer for 40 minutes until the beef is nearly tender.
- Blend the tomatoes, chili and the second onion into a rough purée.
- Heat the palm oil in a wide pot over medium heat. Add the purée and cook for 10 minutes, stirring, until it thickens and the oil separates.
- Add the beef with about 250 ml of its broth to the pot. Simmer for 10 minutes, then stir in the smoked fish.
- Add the spinach in handfuls, stirring until each batch wilts. Cover and cook for 8 to 10 minutes until the greens are soft and dark.
- Season with the remaining salt and serve hot over rice or with akoumé.
Tips
- The traditional gboma leaves are bitter and are sold at African grocers. Spinach with a handful of chopped kale or chard will bring back some of that bite.
- Smoked mackerel or smoked catfish make good smoked fish. Soak very salty fish in hot water for 10 minutes first.
Questions and answers
What is gboma?
Gboma, or African eggplant leaf, is a leafy vegetable with a slightly bitter taste. Spinach is the usual substitute outside West Africa.
Can I make it without meat?
Yes. Use extra smoked fish or mushrooms and cook for 25 minutes. The sauce will be lighter but still rich with palm oil.
Does it freeze well?
Yes. Freeze the stew for up to 3 months, thaw overnight and reheat gently.
How long does it take to make Gboma Dessi (Togolese Spinach Stew with Beef and Smoked Fish)?
About 1 h 40 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 1 h 15 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Gboma Dessi (Togolese Spinach Stew with Beef and Smoked Fish)?
About 400 kcal per serving, with 34 g of protein, 14 g of carbohydrates and 22 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 400 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 34 g |
| Carbohydrates | 14 g |
| Fat | 22 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Sodium | 930 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
