Mwanaka Fresh Farm Foods and Butchery
2 Simple Ways to Cook Nyimo/ Bambara Nuts and LOVE them!

2 Simple Ways to Cook Nyimo/ Bambara Nuts and LOVE them!

Bambara Nuts. There’s something about bambara nuts that communicates the most heartwarming feeling in me.

It might be the memories I have of sitting under gogo’s (grandmother’s) giant avocado tree during the harvest season.

Cousins from all over Zimbabwe would be gathered at gogo’s for the holidays and after an entire morning of hard work harvesting crop, we would gather together on one of her reed mats (rukukwe/rupasa) to eat freshly boiled Bambara Nuts (Nyimo/Indlubu) and laugh and reminisce over fond memories together.

It’s about that feeling you get when you squeeze the nut out of the shell and it goes almost popping into your mouth. That earthy fragrance and taste.

Bambara Nuts are popular all round Sub Sahara. Apparently coming from West Africa, they are used for cooking many dishes ranging from bread to soup.

In Zimbabwe, of course, they are eaten as a snack and as mutakura ( mix of nuts, maize and bambara nuts). Living in the UK and having so many ingredients at our disposal, maybe it’s time to explore the Bambara nut potential.

Here are 2 Simple Ways to use Bambara Nuts for meals:

Potato and Bambara Soup

Potato & Bambara Soup

You will need:

  • 1 Large Onion
  • Half stick Celery (Optional)
  • 2 Medium Potatoes
  • Half of a Medium Sized Red Pepper
  • Half of a Medium sized Green Pepper
  • Salt to taste
  • 2 cups dried bambara nuts
  • (seasoning spices)
  • (We love using unconventional spices because we believe most spices go with most Zimbabwean style recipes and meals)
  • Robertsons Steak and Chops Spice
  • Aromat Beef
  • Madras Mild Curry Powder (1 teaspoon)
  • When adding spices, keep in mind most spices contain salt.

Method

(Dried Nuts require soaking overnight). Simply salt and boil Bambara Nuts for about 45 minutes or Once soft and splitting open, drain water. (test with a fork, when the fork can pierce through easily, they are ready but generally once they start splitting they are ready.

Fry Diced potatoes in Peppers, Onions and season with your favourite spices and salt to taste.

Add some tomatoes and fry for a while

Add water and simmer for 45 mins or until potatoes are cooked. Add a handful of kale, cabbage or rape and cover for 3 minutes.

Ready to Enjoy

2. Stir Fried Bambara

Pre cook 1 cup  peeled bambara nuts or Cook and Peel. After that it’s pretty straightforward. Fry with some peppers, onions, spring onions, Robertsons Shisanyama Spice, and Robertsons Spice for Rice. Add a little vinegar (optional).

Purchase Nyimo/ Bambara Nuts Here

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