Zambia
Ifisashi: Zambian spinach in peanut sauce
A quick adaptation of Zambian greens in peanut sauce, made with frozen spinach, tomatoes and unsweetened peanut butter.
- Cuisine
- Zambian cuisine
- Meal type
- Main course
- Servings
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Prep
- 2 min
- Cooking
- 23 min
- Total
- 25 min
Recipe
A quick adaptation of Zambian greens in peanut sauce, made with frozen spinach, tomatoes and unsweetened peanut butter.
Traditional ifisashi is made with leafy greens and ground peanuts and is often served with nshima, a Zambian maize porridge.
Practical cooking
Ingredients
4 servings
Ingredients
- 600 g frozen spinach without cream
- 150 g unsweetened 100% peanut butter
- 400 g canned chopped tomatoes
- 2 garlic cloves
- 100 ml hot water (for the spinach)
- 150 ml hot water (for the peanut sauce)
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 small chilli pepper (optional)
- 240 g dry rice (optional; rice is excluded from the nutrition estimate)
Nutrition per serving
- Energy
- 282 kcal1179 kJ
- Fat
- 19.7 g
- Saturated fat
- 3.0 g
- Carbohydrates
- 18.3 g
- Sugars
- 5.4 g
- Fibre
- 9.4 g
- Protein
- 15.5 g
- Salt
- 1.0 g
Calculated estimate. Actual values may vary depending on the ingredients used.
Cook flow
Instructions
Total: 25 min
- 1
Method
Prepare the ingredients
Finely chop the garlic and, if using, the chilli. There is no need to thaw the spinach first.
Simmer the tomatoes
Put the tomatoes and their juice in a wide pot with the garlic and optional chilli. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook uncovered for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the spinach
Add the frozen spinach and the water for the spinach. Cover and simmer gently for 5–8 minutes until thawed and heated through, stirring occasionally. If there is too much liquid, uncover for the last 2 minutes.
Make the peanut sauce
Gradually mix the peanut butter with the remaining hot water in a bowl until smooth.
Finish the ifisashi
Stir the peanut sauce and salt into the spinach. Simmer gently for 8–10 minutes, stirring regularly, until thick. Add a little hot water if needed, or cook uncovered a little longer.
Season and serve
Taste and add salt if needed. Serve hot with rice or traditional maize porridge, nshima. You can cook the rice alongside, following the packet instructions.
Refine
Tips and variations
After cooking
Storage and serving
Knowledge graph