An easy guide to make Cameroonian Kwacoco bible recipe
This is a very filling meal that is filled with flavours and serves as an aromatic side dish.
Popular among the Bakweri tribe in the South Western province of Cameroon, the Kwacoco bible is made from grated cocoyam and mixed with spinach, smoked fish, red oil and other spices.
The meal is wrapped in plantain leaves and steamed until cooked through with a strong flavour that sometimes leaves a slight itch in the back of your throat.
Cooking time
1 hour 40 minutes
Recipe category
Main Dish
Recipe cuisine
Cameroonian Dish
Cooking method
Boiling / Heating
Recipe Yield
4 servings
Ingredients
3 pounds cocoyam peeled and cleaned
5 cups fresh spinach chopped
1 cup red oil or more adjust according to preference
½ cup crayfish
1 1/2 cup smoked fish
1 ½ cup smoked turkey cut into bite-size pieces
2 teaspoons salt adjust to taste
1 scotch bonnet pierced
1 teaspoon bouillon powder or maggie
½ teaspoon country onion spice optional
Instructions
- Add about Lightly boil smoked turkey, smoked fish, crayfish with pepper and Maggie in a medium pot for about 3-5 minutes. Reserve the stock for later use. If you want more heat press the pepper for a long time. Remove scotch bonnet pepper set aside.
- Peel the coco yams with a sharp knife, peeling away from your body carefully draw the paring knife down the body of the yam, being careful not to remove too much of the yam in during the process.
- Look for any spoiled spots, such as bruising and discoloration, in the cocoyam as you peel. Remove the spots away with the tip of the knife.
- Cut into large chunks and wash immediately to prevent discoloration and leave them in cool water until ready to use.
- Grate cocoyam using a grater or pulse the cocoyam in a food processor with water until puree (try not to make it too fine).
- In a large bowl add mixture of fish, spinach, red oil, crayfish, smoked turkey, stock, salt and country onion to the grated cocoyam.
- Cut the banana leaves into rectangles, remove any ugly edges, submerge them in water to clean and drain pat- dry. Use aluminum paper if banana leaves are not available.
- The leaves must be heated and wilted over an open high flame to make them flexible.
- Place the mixture of kwacoco on the leaf about ½-1 cup.
- Then quickly fold banana leaves over it, and press sides into a rectangle shape making sure to press inwards so none of the kwacoco runs out.
- Then fold the sides in to seal twice. Repeat the process and set them.
- If possible form a steamer by placing a small cookie rack in a large pot. Line with banana leaves, bring to a boil , then start placing bundles in the pot and steam for about an hour, adding water as necessary.
Your Kwacoco bible is ready! Serve warm.