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Tswii (Water Lily Tuber and Beef Stew)
A legendary Okavango Delta stew pairing rich browned beef with tender, earthy wild water lily tubers in a savory gravy.
The story
Tswii is a signature dish of the riverine Bayei and Hambukushu communities residing along the waterways and channels of northern Botswana's Okavango Delta. Harvested by skilled women who navigate mokoro canoes into the delta shallows to pull up the roots of Nymphaea nouchali, the tubers are prepared to celebrate abundant river yields and honored guests. The starchy tubers absorb the savory beef marrow and juices while releasing natural starches that thicken the broth into a uniquely velvety, dark gravy.
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