Bitter Leaf: The Star Ingredient in Cameroon’s National Dish

When talking about Cameroonian cuisine, Ndole which is the national dish of Cameroon is at the top of the list even in the minds of people from other parts of the world. Ndole is made using a green leafy vegetable called bitter leaf which is cooked in a creamy peanut sauce and garnished with shrimp and onion then served with a variety of sides.

What Makes Bitter Leaf the Star Ingredient in Cameroon’s National Dish?  

To answer this question, let’s examine the star ingredient of this dish. The African bitter leaf, scientifically known as Vernonia amygdalina is a green leafy vegetable native to tropical Africa. It is one of the most widely consumed vegetables in many African countries. One unique characteristic of bitter leaf  is the extremely bitter taste from the chemical compounds Saponins, Tannins, Alkaloids and Flavonoids that are found in the plant. Bitter leaves are treated after harvest by washing. This process involves rubbing the leaves vigorously between the palm with water and sometimes with salt. The leaves may also be boiled before or after washing to extract the bitter chemical compounds in the leaves to make it more palatable.  

Bitter Leaf Plant

Bitter leaf is called Ndole in the traditional dialect of the Douala people. This traditional name originated from a key culinary technique. According to the Douala people, boiling the bitter leaves before or after washing with limestone to extract the bitter chemical compounds is traditionally associated with the name of the dish. That is, “bitter leaf that is treated to cook Ndole” it's what gives the dish (Ndole) its unique Name.

Ndole is the traditional dish of the Douala ethnic group in the Littoral Region and it’s also the National Dish of Cameroon.  Ndole has made its way passed the national boundaries of Cameroon and has gotten into the international space as one of Cameroon’s culinary delicacies.With just a bite, Ndole has a creamy peanut flavor with a mild residual bitter taste that comes from the bitter leaves. It also has a mild residual sweet taste that comes from a sugar compound found in the plant called Glycoside. When compounds are mixed with the flavors from other ingredients in a pot Ndole, you will crave for more. 

Recreate our Ndole recipe now to get teleported to Cameroon.  Ndole - “Africa’s Dish In Miniature”