Kizaca (Quizaca OR Kisaca)

The traditional Angolan cuisine kizaca, sometimes known as quizaca or kisaca, is one of the country's most popular vegetarian dishes. It's made from cooked cassava leaves and ground peanuts. Cassava and peanuts are cooked until the dish thickens and the peanuts make a smooth, nutty sauce.

Although it is currently considered the country's national dish, kizaka has an interesting historical past. Angola was a Portuguese colony for centuries, and kizaka, like most Angolan cuisines, is a fusion of European and true African ingredients.

Surprisingly, the major component, cassava, was brought to Angola from Brazil, another former Portuguese colony, where it is considered an indigenous ingredient. The most popular variant in Angola is kizaka com peixe, a dish cooked with fish, onions, and tomatoes, with rice served on the side.

The dish is popular throughout Angola, and it is typically served as a side dish with meat or fish meals. Green cassava leaves are frequently replaced w spinach.