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Motswana recipe

How to make Dikgobe

All of Botswana

Dikgobe
Photo: Jay Superthato, CC0

Samp, which is dried maize kernels broken into pieces, cooked slowly with beans until thick and creamy. Dikgobe is a comforting everyday meal and a fixture at weddings, where it is served with seswaa.

Serves 6 3 h

Ingredients

  • 250 g samp (broken dried maize kernels)
  • 250 g dried sugar beans or cowpeas
  • 2 litres water
  • 1 onion, chopped, fried in 2 tablespoons oil (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Method

  1. Soak the samp and beans together overnight in plenty of cold water, then drain.
  2. Put them in a large pot with the water and bring to the boil.
  3. Simmer gently, half covered, for 2 to 3 hours, stirring from time to time and adding hot water if it gets too dry, until both are soft.
  4. Stir in the salt and the fried onion, if using, and mash lightly so the mixture becomes creamy.
  5. Serve on its own or with seswaa or a meat stew.
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