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Derere
Okra relish
Derere: Zimbabwean okra cooked quickly with bicarbonate into a light, silky relish for sadza
Derere is the slippery okra relish that Zimbabwean families, especially in Mashonaland, eat with sadza (maize porridge) at weekday dinners; the stretchy texture is the point, because it helps each pinch of sadza slide up a little relish. Grated or finely sliced okra is boiled briefly with a pinch of bicarbonate of soda, which makes it extra smooth and keeps it bright green, then finished with tomato and onion. It is vegan and very light, with about 3 g of protein per portion; serve it with beans or peanut-butter greens for a full meal. The common mistake is too much bicarbonate: more than a pinch gives a soapy taste. Chef's tip: stir with a whisk or a fork for the last minute; it builds the classic stretchy, glossy texture.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 14 oz okratops removed, coarsely grated or very thinly sliced
- 1 cup water
- ¼ tsp bicarbonate of sodaa small pinch
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 onionfinely chopped
- 1 tomatochopped
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 chilli (optional)chopped
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a small pan over a medium heat and fry 1 onion until soft, then add 1 tomato and 1 chilli, if using, and cook until the tomato breaks down. Set aside.
5 minStep 2: Bring 1 cup water to the boil in a pot. Add 14 oz okra and ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda and boil, stirring, until the okra turns bright green and the liquid becomes thick and stringy.
4 minStep 3: Stir in the tomato mixture and ½ tsp salt and whisk for 1 minute, until the relish is glossy and stretches from the spoon.
1 minStep 4: Serve hot with sadza or rice.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 60 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 8 g
- Fat
- 3 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does derere take?
- About 20 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of bicarbonate of soda?
- Baking powder, three times the amount (the bake may taste slightly different).
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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