Liberian Gboma Dassou
A flavorful Liberian dish featuring pumpkin leaves (gboma) cooked with palm oil, onions, peppers, and often served with rice or fufu. It's a nutritious and satisfying vegetarian option.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 kg Fresh Gboma leaves (pumpkin leaves)(washed and chopped)
- 1/2 cup Palm oil
- 2 medium Onions(chopped)
- 1-2 Scotch bonnet peppers(finely chopped (adjust to taste))
- 4 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 1 inch piece Ginger(grated)
- 1 Stock cube (optional)(crushed)
- to taste Salt
- 1/2 cup Water(or as needed)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Wash the gboma leaves thoroughly and chop them into bite-sized pieces.
- 2
Heat the palm oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and sauté until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- 3
Add the minced garlic and grated ginger to the pot and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- 4
Stir in the chopped scotch bonnet peppers. Be cautious with the amount depending on your spice preference.
- 5
Add the chopped gboma leaves to the pot. Stir well to coat the leaves with the oil and aromatics.
- 6
Pour in about 1/2 cup of water. If using, add the crushed stock cube. Season with salt to taste.
- 7
Cover the pot and let it simmer over low to medium heat for about 30-40 minutes, or until the gboma leaves are tender and the sauce has thickened slightly. Stir occasionally and add a little more water if it becomes too dry.
- 8
Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve hot with Liberian rice, fufu, or your preferred accompaniment.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Ensure gboma leaves are well-washed to remove any grit.
- ✓For a richer flavor, you can add smoked fish or meat if not preparing a vegetarian version.
- ✓Adjust the amount of scotch bonnet pepper to control the heat level.
🔄 Variations
- Add diced tomatoes along with the onions for a slightly different flavor profile.
- Incorporate other leafy greens like spinach or kale if gboma leaves are unavailable.