Southern Africa · Side
Katapa (Pounded Cassava Leaf Relish)
Velvety pounded cassava leaves simmered with fragrant groundnut paste, ripe tomatoes, and sweet onions for an earthy Luvale classic.
The story
Katapa is the definitive green relish of the Luvale and Lunda peoples of Northwestern Zambia, served at everyday family meals alongside dense cassava nshima. Fresh, tender young cassava leaves are selectively picked from sweet cassava varieties to ensure low initial bitterness. A crucial technical rule is the extended boiling stage without a lid, which allows cyanogenic glucosides in the raw leaves to volatilely escape in the steam before rich groundnut paste is folded into the sauce.
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