Dongo Dongo

Besides the famous dishes Poulet Nyembwe or Brochettes, Gabon is also mentioned a lot with Dongo Dongo - a unique traditional dish that you definitely have to try when coming here. Dongo-dongo is a tasty African cuisine that includes okra as the main ingredient. It is classified as both a soup and a sauce. The mix of fish and okra may seem strange, but it's surprisingly wonderful.

Dongo Dongo is a versatile cuisine that is claimed to be a "relative" of the famed Cajun-Creole Gumbo. Dongo Dongo can be served as a sauce or soup with any starchy side dish, such as Fufu rice. Along with various ingredients like as hot peppers, stir-fried onions, and garlic are added to the Dongo Dongo pot. As a result, your dessert will not taste greasy.

One more thing you may not know, okra has long been considered a food of the poor in Gabon, but as nutritionists capitalize on its benefits, it is becoming a weekly staple in local market. Research is still ongoing, but patients say okra has helped them control blood sugar in type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.

Ingredients

• 2-3 tbsp oil to sauté, 2 onions, cleaned and finely chopped, 2 hot chile peppers, cleaned and finely chopped, 20 or more okra, ends removed, cleaned, and chopped, 2-3 cloves of garlic, minced, 1-2 tbsp Arome Maggi sauce or two Maggi cubes , any amount of dried, salted, or smoked fish, cleaned and rinsed (use a little just as a flavoring, or enough for everyone to have a serving), a pinch of baking soda -- or—one can tomato paste (optional)

Instructions

• Heat oil in a deep pot. Sauté onions and garlic for a few minutes.
• Add Maggi sauce or Maggi cubes, okra, and peppers. Cook for several minutes.
• Add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and add fish.
• If desired, add the baking soda (for a gooey sauce) or the tomato paste (for a red sauce). Simmer until the okra and fish are tender.