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Porto-Novo (Benin)
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Main course
Vegan
Food Flavour DNA
Nutritional Values
240kcal
8gProtein
45gCarbs
12gFat
10gFibre
350 gServing
* Per serving · 350 g. May vary.
Calalou
How to order / say it
Say it
Kalalou — [ka-lah-loo]
Order
I'll have the Calalou, please.
Locally
J'aimerais le Kalalou, s'il vous plaît.
Say locally
A flavorful spinach and okra stew.
Why try it?
Calalou is a staple in Porto-Novo, showcasing the ingenuity of blending locally available greens for a nutritious meal. It's a celebration of urban and rural culinary fusion.
How it tastes
The stew is rich with the earthy flavors of spinach and the slightly slimy texture of okra, seasoned with local spices.
Origin & History — first documented: 1850
Originated in the mid-19th century among local communities in Porto-Novo that developed the dish to utilize easily grown vegetables.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 🥕 200 g spinach
- 🥕 150 g okra
- 🧄 1 medium onion
- 🥕 100 g tomatoes
- 🫒 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 🧄 2 cloves garlic
- 🧂 1 tsp chili pepper
Method
- 1 Heat oil in a pot and sauté onions and garlic.
- 2 Add tomatoes, okra, and spinach, then cook until softened.
- 3 Season with chili pepper and simmer for 15 minutes.
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