Sauce Graine (Ivorian Palm Nut Soup)
Local name: Sauce graine
In short: A thick, rust-red stew of palm nut cream simmered with beef, smoked fish, tomato and chili until the red oil rises, served with rice or foutou. It takes about 2 h 15 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 1 h 50 min
- Total
- 2 h 15 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 505 kcal
Sauce graine is the palm nut soup of Côte d'Ivoire, a thick, rust-red stew made from the cream of palm nuts simmered for a long time with beef, smoked fish, tomato and chili. The slow simmer brings the palm oil to the surface and gives a deep, nutty, slightly smoky flavor. It is ladled over rice or served with foutou, and it is a dish for Sundays and gatherings. Canned palm nut cream is sold in African and Caribbean shops.
Instructions
- Put the beef, half the onions, half the garlic, the ginger and 1 teaspoon of the salt in a large pot with 1 liter (4 cups) of the water. Bring to a boil, skim off the foam, then simmer partly covered for 45 minutes.
- Soak the smoked fish in hot water for 10 minutes. Drain, remove the skin and bones and break the flesh into chunks.
- In a bowl, stir the palm nut concentrate with 500 ml (2 cups) of warm water until smooth. If you see bits of husk, pour the mixture through a sieve.
- Pour the palm nut mixture into the beef pot and add the remaining onions, garlic, the tomatoes and the chili. Stir well.
- Simmer gently, uncovered, for 40 to 50 minutes, stirring now and then, until the sauce thickens and red oil gathers on the surface. Add the smoked fish for the last 15 minutes.
- Remove the chili, then taste and add the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, or more if needed. Serve hot with rice or foutou.
Tips
- Keep the heat low and stir from the bottom. Palm nut cream sticks easily and can scorch on the base of the pot.
- For a quicker version, cook the beef in a pressure cooker for 25 minutes, then simmer the sauce for 30 minutes.
Questions and answers
What is palm nut cream?
It is a thick, oily pulp pressed from the fruit of the oil palm, sold in cans or jars as sauce graine base, palm nut concentrate or palm soup base.
Can I use chicken or fish instead of beef?
Yes. Use bone-in chicken thighs and cut the first simmer to 20 minutes, or use firm fish steaks added for the last 10 minutes of cooking.
Does sauce graine freeze well?
Yes, for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and warm slowly while stirring, so the oil mixes back into the sauce.
How long does it take to make Sauce Graine (Ivorian Palm Nut Soup)?
About 2 h 15 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 1 h 50 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Sauce Graine (Ivorian Palm Nut Soup)?
About 505 kcal per serving, with 31 g of protein, 12 g of carbohydrates and 37 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 505 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 31 g |
| Carbohydrates | 12 g |
| Fat | 37 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Sodium | 900 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
