Gboma Dessi

About This Recipe

Gboma Dessi is a beloved Togolese stew made with garden eggplant (gboma), smoked fish, and a base of tomatoes and onions fried in red palm oil. Hearty and deeply savoury, it is served over fufu, rice, or akpan and is a centrepiece of everyday family meals across the country.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 2 mediumAfrican eggplants (or regular eggplant), cubed
• 200 gsmoked fish, flaked
• 3 mediumtomatoes, blended
• 1 largeonion, chopped
• 3 tbspred palm oil
• salt andchilli pepper to taste

Instructions

1. 1

   Fry base

   Heat palm oil and fry onion until golden. Add blended tomatoes and cook down 10 minutes.

2. 2

   Add eggplant

   Add eggplant cubes, stir to coat in sauce. Add a splash of water and season with salt and chilli.

3. 3

   Add fish

   Stir in smoked fish and simmer 15 minutes until eggplant is completely soft and stew is thick.

4. 4

   Serve

   Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve with fufu or rice.

Variations

• •

  Add crayfish or dried shrimp for extra umami depth.

• •

  Use dried fish instead of smoked for a different flavour.

Storage

Refrigerate up to 3 days. Freezes well up to 2 months.

Frequently Asked Questions