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Nakati
Bitter eggplant leaves with tomato
Nakati: Ugandan bitter African eggplant leaves cooked with tomato and onion, finished with groundnut paste
Nakati are the leaves of the African eggplant, and in Kampala and the Buganda countryside they are cooked as an everyday green beside matooke, posho or rice. The leaves are simmered down with onion and tomato until soft, then often enriched with a spoonful of groundnut paste that softens their pleasant bitterness and makes a creamy sauce. Look for nakati at African grocers; young spinach with a handful of kale is a good stand-in. The usual mistake is adding the groundnut paste too early, which lets it catch and burn. Chef's tip: loosen the groundnut paste with a little hot water before stirring it in, so it melts smoothly into the greens.
- Total time
- 28 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
- 1 onionfinely chopped
- 2 tomatoeschopped
- 1 ⅛ lb nakati leaves (or 400 g spinach and 100 g kale)washed and roughly chopped
- ½ cup water
- ¾ tsp salt
- 4 tbsp hot water
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Method
0/3 doneStep 1: Heat 2 tbsp sunflower oil in a pot over a medium heat and fry 1 onion for 5 minutes until soft. Add 2 tomatoes and cook for 4 minutes until they break down.
9 minStep 2: Add 1 ⅛ lb nakati leaves (or 400 g spinach and 100 g kale), ½ cup water and ¾ tsp salt, cover and cook for 5–6 minutes, stirring once, until the leaves are wilted and tender.
6 minStep 3: Mix 3 tbsp smooth groundnut paste (unsweetened peanut butter) with 4 tbsp hot water to a smooth cream, stir it into the greens and simmer for 2–3 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the leaves. Serve hot.
3 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 170 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 10 g
- Fat
- 12 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does nakati take?
- About 28 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 18 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 onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of tomatoes?
- Tinned chopped tomatoes: a 400g tin for about 6 tomatoes (in cooked dishes, not salads).
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