Palaver Sauce Recipe – Authentic Ghanaian Stew (Easy & Flavorful!)

Name: Palava sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Ghanaian
Ingredients: 2 cups • of chopped spinach or kontomire (cocoyam leaves); • Fresh tomatoes (blended); • Tomato paste; 1 • medium onion; chopped; 2 • cloves of garlic; minced; 1 piece • thumb-sized of ginger; grated; 0.25 cup • of palm oil or vegetable oil; 1 • Scotch bonnet or habanero peppers; chopped (optional; for heat); • smoked fish; cleaned (I used tuna for this recepie); • cowhide (wele); 0.5 cup • of melon seed(egusi); • Salt to taste; 1 • Maggi or stock cubes; • Water or broth as needed

Palava sauce is a popular West African dish, especially in Ghana. It's a flavorful and nutritious stew typically made with green leafy vegetables like spinach or kontomire (cocoyam leaves), and it's often served with rice, yams, or plantains. Here's a basic recipe for palava sauce:

• of chopped spinach or kontomire (cocoyam leaves)

• Fresh tomatoes (blended)

• cloves of garlic

• thumb-sized of ginger

• of palm oil or vegetable oil

• Scotch bonnet or habanero peppers

cleaned (I used tuna for this recepie)

• of melon seed(egusi)

• Maggi or stock cubes

• Water or broth as needed

Calories

265.0kcal (13.25%)

Protein

5.3g (10.5%)

Step 1

Prepare the Vegetables:

Step 2

If using kontomire (cocoyam leaves), boil them for about 5-7 minutes to soften them. Drain and chop them finely. If using spinach, you can skip the boiling step and just chop them.

Step 3

Heat the Oil:

Step 4

o In a large pot, heat the palm oil or vegetable oil over medium heat.

Step 5

Sauté Aromatics:

Step 6

Add the chopped onions, garlic, and ginger to the oil. Sauté until the onions become translucent and aromatic.

Step 7

Add Tomato paste

Step 8

Add tomato paste. Stir well to combine. Add water to loosen it up

Step 9

Add Tomatoes and Peppers:

Step 10

Stir in the blended tomatoes and Scotch bonnet peppers (if using). Cook for about 5-7 minutes until the tomatoes break down and form a thick sauce.

Step 11

Add Fish and Seasonings:

Step 12

Stir in the smoked fish or tuna and cowhide(wele), season with salt and stock cubes. Let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

Step 13

Add melon seed (egusi):

Step 14

Stir in melon seed. Add a bit of water to loosen it up Cook for 3mins

Step 15

Add the Vegetables:

Step 16

Stir in the chopped spinach or kontomire. Cook for another 5-10 minutes, until the greens are tender and the sauce is well combined. Add more water or broth if needed to reach your desired consistency.

Step 17

Adjust Seasoning and Serve:

Step 18

Taste the sauce and enjoy