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Modika (Wild Mango Seed and Bushmeat Sauce)
A rich, gelatinous bushmeat and smoked fish stew thickened with toasted, ground wild mango seeds and red palm oil.
The story
Cooked by the coastal Ndowe and continental Fang for family gatherings and weekend feasts, Modika is prized for its velvety, viscous consistency. The sauce gets its distinct slippery texture and deep nutty profile from the kernels of Irvingia gabonensis (wild mango/ogbono), dried and ground into a fine powder. Traditional cooks slowly bloom the ground seed in warm oil off the heat before introducing boiling stock to prevent clumping and maintain maximum draw.
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