Recipe for pumpkin leaves (muboora)

I am in Zimbabwe at the moment and having the time of my life. The people, the food and the weather have all been wonderful. I have eaten food that I only dreamt about the last two years and I get really sad when I think of the fact that I am going to have to let it go soon. To today’s post, last night I had my favourite meal SADZA NEMUBOORA NENYAMA YEHUKU (Sadza with pumpkin leaves and roasted chicken). This will definitely be on my last meal request!

A few weeks before I came I begged my mother to grow the pumpkin leaves and with the rains received in the last few days the plant looks absolutely awesome.

Preparing pumpkin leaves for consumption is a skill that takes time to master otherwise it becomes inedible (muboora unotandavara). Here are the steps for preparing the leaves:

1. Pluck the leaves from towards the bud of the plant. Skip one leaf as you pluck the leaves and select young soft leaves. Do not pluck the bud of the plant!(If buying the leaves skip this step).
2. Run the leaves under water as they may collect dirt and or soil during irrigation or rainfall.
3. Remove the bark, start at the stalk of the leaf. Break the stalk away from the leaf in such a way that you also remove bark from the inner leaf. This video shows how to do it

This is what you will have after preparing the leaves.

Cut the prepared leaves into ribbons.

Boil salted water and add the pumpkin leaves. You may add a quarter teaspoon of baking soda if the leaves are hard to the touch. Simmer for about 5 minutes or until the leaves are tender.

Remove from heat and drain. Place the leaves in a bowl.

Saute the onion in the oil and the tomato. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add back the pumpkin leaves, blend well.

Optionally at this point you may add the fresh cream. Simmer for a minute and you are ready to serve with Sadza.

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Recipe for pumpkin leaves (muboora)

Cuisine Zimbabwean

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Servings 4

Author Princess Tafadzwa

Ingredients

• 30 pumpkin leaves
• 1 chopped onion
• 1 diced tomato
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp fresh cream

Instructions

1. Cut the prepared leaves into ribbons.
2. Boil salted water and add the pumpkin leaves. You may add a quarter teaspoon of baking soda if the leaves are hard to the touch. Simmer for about 5 minutes or until the leaves are tender.
3. Remove from heat and drain. Place the leaves in a bowl.
4. Saute the onion in the oil and the tomato. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add back the pumpkin leaves, blend well.
5. Serve with sadza or rice