Hey guys, let me tell you this, you know how some people eagerly wait for summer for the produce, vacations and warm weather.
Yes, that’s me. It is not the same with hubby; all he looks forward to is these leafy greens. Yep. He was raised on Njama Njama and fufu corn and guess what? He has been eating these greens almost everyday for the past two weeks. You think he would be sick of it by now but Nooooo…. He wants more. Someone help! Anyone???
Njama Njama (that’s how it is referred to in Cameroon) is one of the most popular vegetables in Cameroon especially in the North West Region and to a lesser extent in Nigeria and Kenya- sometimes referred to as African nightshade and huckleberry. Its scientific name is Solanum scabrum.
Here, in the United States, Huckleberry leaves are seasonal, they blossom this time of the year. So now is the best time to enjoy or get your hands on it. A good place to start would be the farmers market, ask the Asian farmers they sometimes do carry it.
Your best bet would be to grow it – it is highly nutritious and you can eat the stems and leaves too. They have a pleasant flavor and slightly bitter to taste. One farmer, in the farmers market mentioned that they drink the water from the boiled leaves for medicinal purposes in East and South East Asia.
If you cannot lay your hands on nightshade, these are good substitutes: Swiss chard they are UH-mazing – love it! Kale, or even spinach, to be honest, this is what I use most of the time.
There are several ways of making this vegetable stew- all you need is a few ingredients; onion, tomatoes, oil, and bouillon cubes (powder). If you want to make it more fancy you can add crayfish, smoked chicken, more seasonings or even egusi. I made it very simple without all the other embellishments because that is how hubby likes it – rustic.
This exotic African stir fry is usually paired with fufu corn (polenta) or some would refer to it as ugali a really bland yet filling starchy accompaniment to the vegetable. I included my version of making fu fu corn – there are several ways of making it. Let me know if there is a better alternative (this is my weakness).
Enjoy!
- 1 medium onion sliced
- 5-6 fresh tomatoes chopped
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 5 pounds Nightshade, kale, water crest or 3 pounds frozen kale or spinach.
- ½ -1 cup canola oil (palm oil)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1-teaspoon paprika
- ½ pound chopped smoked turkey/fish
- 1-teaspoon paprika (optional)
- 1-tablespoon bouillon powder or Maggie cube (optional)
- 1-2 scotch bonnet or habanera pepper
- Fufu
- 1 pound finely ground corn flour
- 4-5 cups water.
- 2 teaspoon salt (optional)
- Blanche vegetables in hot water for until wilted – about 2-3 minutes. Remove and place in cold water to prevent the leaves from cooking further. Drain and squeeze out water from the vegetables. Set aside
- Heat palm oil or canola oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat until hot.
- Add onions, lightly sauté onions until it is wilted about 2-3 minutes. Add tomatoes, scotch bonnet pepper and bouillon, continue cooking
- Scraping any browned bits off the bottom of the pot. You may add these optional ingredients now, paprika, smoked turkey, cray fish or smoked fish and proceed with cooking, occasionally stirring for about 10 minutes.
- Finally add vegetable , cook for about 2-3 minutes. Adjust seasonings and turn off the heat.
- Salt lightly
- Fufu corn
- Add about 4 cups of water to a heavy large saucepan. Add 2 teaspoons of salt. Gradually whisk in the cornmeal and keep stirring with a wooden spoon until it comes to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low and cook until the mixture thickens and the cornmeal is tender, stirring often, about 10-15 minutes . You may add some more water if desired. Turn off the heat. Scoop out balls with a small bowl – shake and form a ball by roll it around. Or place on a saran wrap plastic( I have been told several times not to do this – health wise so be mindful of it)
I just wanted to find out from you which of the vegetable is closer to Huckleberry because I loved that vegetable but will not see that here in Canada. Or which will be the best substitutes you think?
The best substitute for most people is spinach. I like water crest but is a little bit pricy compared to the other vegetables.Nothing really compares to Country Njama Njama.
I love this dish with and without egusi. I wanted to suggest that you illustrate the ingredients you use in your recipes. As you know, some of your american names are not so familiar with us in Cameroon (for eg, i did not know that canola oil is actually palm oil). Kudos, u r doing a great job!!!
Oh way?!!! boy o boy. There’s nothing like fresh ngama ngama and corn fufu. Is that semolina flour for the fufu? My mouth has been watering….
No , I used corn meal.
Thank you Imma! After 10 years of making the “basic” rice/bean/plantain dishes for my Cameroonian husband I was so excited to have him walk through the door after a long day and see a plate of Njama Njama with fufu. He absolutely devoured it and said I should make double next time! I went for a mix of red chard and spinach. I’ve struggled for so long to find recipes like yours. My only cookbook from Cameroon”add the necessary spices to taste.” Needless to say, I’m in love with your site! Everything I’ve made so far has been delicious, both African and Caribbean. Tonight Chicken Roti – tomorrow Ekwang and then roasted fish. I can hardly wait to make Achu soup. The man is going to yell with delight 🙂 THANK YOU!!!!!
AWESOME! Erin, you have just put smile on my face today. So happy hubby enjoyed it! Thank you so much! Your line up of dishes are some of my favorites, can’t seem to get enough of the chicken roti not to talk of Ekwang it’s been a while….
Any Cameroonian man worth his salt would be delighted for any woman to cook him this variety of food. You are Amazing!!! Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with me.
Happy Cooking!!!
Hi my name is Cherie. I have varieties of nighthade plants and seeds.
Did you buy the seeds online. Not sure where to order online.I am looking for the one that is on this post. I live in Canada.
In Nigeria, huckleberry vegetable is cultivated and consumed in large quantity on the Mambilla Plateau of Taraba State. This vegetable substitutes all kind of meat. If you visit any Mambilla citizen, you are bound to be served this vegetable and corn fufu. The vegetable is regarded as a very special dish and is highly respected. Today, most ethnic groups in Taraba State have imbibed the tradition of consuming huckleberry as number one vegetable. It is called nyapnzui in Mambilla Bang dialect, Manghe in other Mambilla dialect, kumbi in fulfulde (fulani) language and for those that have Cameroun origin, it is called njama njama.
Thanks for sharing . Very informative.
I actually like huckle berry,like it more when its cooked with groundnuts oil with no egusi,lol its one of my favourites!!
It’s loved by many.
Do they sell the huckleberry seeds online? I want to plant. Please if you know where I can order the seeds online, let me know. I am not sure which of the names to use for the search to get a better result. Thanks
Hi Kelsey! Would have to do some research on this and ask a few people who grow them. Will get back to you on this by the weekend.
Ok thanks. Will be waiting
I did some digging around and those that I spoke to got their seeds from Cameroon or Africa.
Fyi, it’s seasonal, so if you plan on growing it you should have started in March , for it to blossom in the Summer .
The Asian Farmer at my farmer’s market is not selling this summer . Would be curious to know where he gets his seeds.
I’ll still be on the lookout if I find something new
Thanks so much . I have searched online to no avail. Maybe the Chinese people might know. I searched on amazon, I saw huckleberry seeds but wasn’t sure it was the right one.