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Mintumba
Cassava and palm oil leaf parcels
Mintumba: soured cassava dough kneaded with red palm oil and baked in leaves until golden
Golden and glossy with red palm oil, mintumba is the richer cousin of bobolo, baked or steamed in leaves in the Centre region and eaten as a snack or alongside sauce, grilled fish or roasted groundnuts. The soured cassava dough is kneaded with oil and a little salt, then wrapped and cooked until it sets into a dense, chewy loaf with a toasty crust where it touched the leaf. Its flavour is tangy, earthy and buttery from the oil. Start with bought fermented cassava paste from an African grocer, or make the dough as for bobolo. Don't wrap the dough loosely; gaps let water in and the parcels turn soggy. Chef's tip: warm the palm oil until just liquid before kneading it in; poured in solid, it streaks the dough instead of colouring it evenly.
- Total time
- 80 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ lb fermented cassava pastedrained and firm; bought, or made as for bobolo (steps 1–4)
- ½ cup red palm oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 4 banana leavesor foil lined with baking paper
- foilfor wrapping
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 350°F (325°F fan). Break up the 2 ¼ lb fermented cassava paste in a large bowl, pulling out any fibres.
5 minStep 2: Warm the ½ cup red palm oil in a small pan over a low heat for 1–2 minutes until just liquid and clear.
2 minStep 4: Soften the 4 banana leaves over a flame. Shape the dough into two logs about 5 cm thick, wrap each tightly in leaves, fold in the ends and wrap again in foil so they keep their shape.
Step 5: Bake for 60 minutes, turning halfway, until the parcels feel firm and the dough inside is deep golden and slightly translucent at the edges.
60 minStep 6: Rest for 10 minutes, then unwrap and slice. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 450 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 66 g
- Fat
- 20 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does mintumba take?
- About 80 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 60 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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