Sauce au Baobab

Name: Sauce au Baobab
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Burkinabe
Ingredients: 2 cups dried baobab leaf powder (lalo); 3 tbsp groundnut paste; 150g dried fish, soaked and deboned; 1 large onion, chopped; 2 tomatoes, chopped; 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 tbsp dawadawa; 1 habanero pepper; 1 Maggi cube; Salt to taste; 600ml water

Sauce au lalo (SOHS oh BAH-oh-bab)

Baobab Leaf Sauce

⏱ Prep Time 40 min

📈 Difficulty Medium

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 210 kcal

A silky, slightly tart sauce made from dried baobab leaves simmered with groundnut paste and dried fish, a unique Sahelian creation.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 14.0g

Carbs 16.0g

Fat 10.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

dairy-free gluten-free nut-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ peanuts ⚠ fish

Equipment Needed

pot mortar and pestle wooden spoon

Presentation Guide

Vessel: small bowl

Garnishes: groundnut sprinkle

Accompaniments: tô, rice

Ingredients

2 cups dried baobab leaf powder (lalo)
3 tbsp groundnut paste
150g dried fish, soaked and deboned
1 large onion, chopped
2 tomatoes, chopped
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp dawadawa
1 habanero pepper
1 Maggi cube
Salt to taste
600ml water

Instructions

1
Heat oil and sauté onion until translucent.
2
Add tomatoes and cook 5 minutes until softened.
3
Add dawadawa and dried fish. Stir and cook 3 minutes.
4
Pour in water and bring to a simmer.
5
Dissolve groundnut paste in a cup of warm water and add to the pot.
6
Gradually sift in baobab leaf powder while stirring to prevent lumps. Simmer 20 minutes. Season and serve.

💡

Did You Know?

The baobab tree is called the "tree of life" in Burkina Faso — its leaves, fruit, bark, and seeds are all used in cooking and medicine.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

pot
mortar and pestle
wooden spoon

Garnishing

groundnut sprinkle

Accompaniments

tô, rice

The Story Behind Sauce au Baobab

Baobab leaf sauce connects Burkinabe cuisine to the ancient Sahelian landscape. The baobab tree, which can live for thousands of years, has provided nutrition to Sahelian peoples since prehistory. Dried baobab leaf powder is a pantry staple in every Burkinabe household.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed lunch accompaniment 📜 Origins: Ancient Sahelian tradition

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