🇸🇱 Sierra Leonean Cuisine

Ogiri Stew

Fermented Locust Bean Stew

Prep Time 50 min

Servings 6

Difficulty Medium

Calories 410 kcal

A deeply umami stew enriched with ogiri (fermented locust beans), dried fish, and palm oil, delivering layers of complex savory flavor.

Ingredients

2 tbsp ogiri (fermented locust beans)
300g dried fish, deboned
200g smoked fish
3 large tomatoes, blended
1 large onion, chopped
3 tbsp palm oil
2 scotch bonnet peppers
2 bouillon cubes
Salt to taste
3 cups water
300g spinach, chopped

Instructions

1 Heat palm oil in a large pot, sauté onion until golden.
2 Add blended tomatoes and cook 15 minutes until reduced.
3 Add ogiri and stir well to distribute the fermented flavor.
4 Add dried fish, smoked fish, scotch bonnet, and bouillon cubes.
5 Pour in water, bring to a simmer and cook 20 minutes.
6 Add chopped spinach, cook 5 minutes until wilted.
7 Serve over steamed rice or with foofoo.

Did You Know?

Ogiri has such a powerful aroma that first-time smellers often flee the kitchen — but its flavor in the finished dish is irreplaceable.