Kondowole (Malawian Cassava Porridge)
In short: A glossy, very stiff cassava porridge from northern Malawi, cooked until it pulls cleanly from the pot and eaten with fish or a bean relish. It takes about 30 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total
- 30 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 270 kcal
Kondowole is the cassava answer to nsima, eaten mostly in northern Malawi along the lakeshore. Cassava flour is stirred into boiling water until it turns into a thick, glossy paste that is firmer and a little stretchier than maize porridge. It is hard to stir, so cooks brace the pot and use a strong wooden spoon. Serve it hot with fish, greens or beans.
Instructions
- Bring 500 ml (2 cups) of the water to a boil in a heavy pot, adding the salt if using. In a bowl, stir 100 g (about 3/4 cup) of the cassava flour into the remaining 200 ml cold water until smooth.
- Whisk the paste into the boiling water. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until the mixture turns thick and translucent.
- Lower the heat. Add the remaining flour in three additions, stirring hard with a sturdy wooden spoon after each, and pressing out any lumps against the side of the pot.
- Keep stirring for 5 to 8 minutes until the paste is very stiff, glossy and pulls away from the pot. Cover and cook on the lowest heat for 5 minutes.
- Stir again for 1 minute. Scoop the kondowole into a wet bowl, turn it out onto a plate and serve hot.
Tips
- Use cassava flour that is sold as safe to eat, not a coarse unprocessed meal. Add a splash of boiling water at the end if it is too stiff to scoop.
- Brace the pot with a damp cloth under it or hold it steady with a mitt. A heavy spoon with a flat edge helps you press the lumps out.
Questions and answers
How is kondowole different from nsima?
Nsima is made from maize meal and is softer and whiter. Kondowole is made from cassava, comes out stickier and glossier, and is more common in northern Malawi.
What do you eat kondowole with?
Fish is the classic partner, along with bean stew or leafy greens. Any relish with some sauce works, since the paste is eaten by scooping it.
Can I reheat kondowole?
It firms up as it cools. Steam slices for 5 minutes, or cut it up and warm it in a little boiling water.
How long does it take to make Kondowole (Malawian Cassava Porridge)?
About 30 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Kondowole (Malawian Cassava Porridge)?
About 270 kcal per serving, with 1 g of protein, 64 g of carbohydrates and 1 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 270 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 1 g |
| Carbohydrates | 64 g |
| Fat | 1 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 1 g |
| Sodium | 290 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
