Basico (Sudanese Sesame Seeds, Greens and Smoked Meat)
Basico (Sudanese Sesame Seeds, Greens and Smoked Meat) is a traditional South Sudanese recipe for a classic stew of black-eyed bean greens, ground sesame seeds and smoked meat. The full recipe is presented here and I hope you enjoy this classic South Sudanese version of: Sudanese Sesame Seeds, Greens and Smoked Meat (Basico).
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Basico — sesame, greens and smoked meat recipe is a South Sudanese traditional meal of ground sesame seeds, leafy green vegetables and smoked meat or fish. This is a specialty of the Kuku tribe of KajoKeji village in South Sudan. It is a Sudanese equivalent of West African egusi soup and, indeed, the Equatorian people of South Sudan, of which Kuku tribe is a part of, trace their lineage to the Bantu peoples who originated in West Africa. Nyete greens refer to the leaves from the black eyed peas plant (korofo lubia, in Juba Arabic).
Ingredients:
280g (2 cups) sesame seeds
1.5l (6 cups) nyete (black-eyed bean) leaves picked off the stems
1 tbsp Kombo (potash) or substitute sodium bicarbonate
500g (1 lb) smoked meat cut into bite-sized cubes
salt and freshly-ground black pepper, to taste
Method:
Place the hulled sesame seeds in a blender and pulse to a powder.
Wash the cowpea leaves thoroughly in plenty of water then drain and shred the leaves before transferring to a clean bowl.
Bring 1l (4 cups) water to a boil in a cooking pot and add 1 tbsp of the potash (or bicarbonate of soda). Once this has dissolved add in the shredded cowpea leaves. Allow the leaves to wilt then add in the smoked meat. Cover and cook for about 20 minutes, until the meat is tender.
Uncover the pot and work in the powdered sesame seeds. Season to taste with salt and plenty of black pepper. Continue cooking, stirring frequently for about 10 minutes, or until the sesame seeds are no longer raw and the mixture is essentially dry.
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