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Futali

Sweet potato groundnut mash

Futali is the rainy-season comfort dish of rural central Malawi, around Dedza and Kasungu, made when the sweet potatoes and pumpkins are in and the groundnut harvest is in the store. The vegetables are simmered in just enough salted water to cook them, then groundnut flour is beaten in, so the starchy liquid and peanut thicken into a soft, orange, savoury-sweet mash. It is eaten as a light lunch or breakfast on its own, or with a spoonful of tomato relish or greens on the side. Too much water is the mistake to watch for, making a soupy mash that never firms. Chef's tip: toast the groundnut flour in a dry pan for a couple of minutes first, for a deeper, roasted flavour.

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