Matapa (Cassava Leaves & Shrimp Stew)
Matapa is one of the most popular dishes in Mozambique. This delicious stew is a popular dinner option in southern Mozambique where shrimp is most plentiful and affordable.
Aside from the shrimp, this stew also features a hearty sauce made with peanuts, coconut milk and finely chopped cassava leaves. The leaves give this dish a distinct flavor that sets it apart from other veggie stews around the world, while the coconut and shrimp give a subtle sweet taste.
In places where cassava leaves are hard to come by, kale or collard greens make for great substitutes. Enjoy this delicious traditional matapa recipe.
Matapa (Cassava Leaves & Shrimp Stew)
Ingredients
- ½ kg young cassava leaves fresh pounded
- 4 cloves garlic
- 150 g onions finely chopped
- 2 tbsp cooking oil
- 300 g shrimp
- 500 g raw peanuts
- 250 ml coconut milk
- salt to taste
- 1 tsp red pepper crushed (to taste)
Instructions
- Begin by washing and chopping off the tough stems and veins from the cassava leaves. Finely chop them (or blitz them in a food processor) and set aside for now.
- Roast the peanuts in a dry pan until golden-brown and allow to cool completely. Then add them in a food processor (or you can use a mortar and pestle) and ground them until they just about turn into peanut butter.
- Sauté the chopped onion in a pan with cooking oil. Once softened, add the shrimp and cook gently for 2-3 minutes. Then add the coconut milk, minced garlic and crushed red pepper and simmer for a couple more minutes.
- Now it's time to stir in the peanut butter we made earlier and stir until it dissolves and thickens the sauce. Next, add the finely chopped cassava leaves and stir it into the mixture, mixing until everything is well combined.
- Simmer the mixture for about 1-1 ½ hours, stirring often until the sauce thickens and the flavours blend together nicely. Taste and season with salt if necessary.
- When the cassava is fully cooked through, your delicious matapa is ready to serve with a lovely side of boiled rice or xima (maize meal)!
Enjoy!
Notes
Related: Mediterranean Fish Soup with Shrimp & Mussels
Related: Shrimp & Corn Chowder
Related: Fennel & Seafood Chowder
Related: Nigerian Fisherman Soup
