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Malambe
Malambe: Malawian baobab fruit drink, tangy and lightly sweetened
On the hot Lower Shire valley floor around Nsanje and Chikwawa, the hard, velvety baobab pods are cracked open in the dry season and their chalky white pulp is soaked to make malambe, a cooling drink sold by the cup at markets. It is pale and creamy-looking, tart like lemon sherbet with a hint of pear, and thicker than juice. Baobab pulp is sold abroad as dried chunks or fine powder; either works here, and the powder makes it a 15-minute drink. Not soaking the chunks long enough is the usual mistake, leaving the drink thin and gritty. Chef's tip: whisk the drink just before serving, because the pulp settles quickly to the bottom.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 4 oz baobab fruit pulpdried chunks with seeds, or 60 g baobab powder
- 4 ¼ cups cold water
- 2 ⅛ oz sugaror to taste
- 8 ice cubes (optional)
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: If using chunks, put 4 oz baobab fruit pulp in a large bowl with 2 cups cold water and leave to soak, then squeeze and rub the pulp off the seeds with your hands until the seeds are bare and the water is thick and milky. If using powder, simply whisk it into the same water.
10 minStep 2: Pour through a sieve into a jug, pressing on the pulp with a spoon, and throw away the seeds and fibres.
Step 3: Stir in the rest of 2 cups cold water and 2 ⅛ oz sugar, whisking until the sugar has dissolved.
2 minStep 4: Taste and add more sugar if it is too sharp, then whisk again and pour over 8 ice cubes to serve.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 110 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 27 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does malambe take?
- About 15 minutes in total.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 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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