Entree: Cameroon – National Cuisine – Okok (A dense Cameroonian steamed pudding of grated cocoyam and cocoyam leaves mixed with palm oil and smoked fish)

Serving Size: 4

Approximate Time

Prep 25 min

Cook 50 min

Total 1 hr 15 min

Ingredients

- 2 lb (900 g) cocoyam (taro) corms, peeled and grated
- 2 cups (packed) cocoyam/taro leaves, finely chopped, approx. 150 g
- 1 smoked mackerel or smoked fish, deboned and flaked, approx. 10 oz (280 g)
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1–2 scotch bonnet peppers, finely chopped (to taste)
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) palm oil (red palm oil)
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) toasted ground crayfish or ground shrimp (optional)
- 1 tsp (5 g) ground pepper or black pepper
- 1 tsp (5 g) salt, adjust to taste
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) fresh lime or lemon juice
- Banana leaves or aluminum foil for wrapping (no measurement)
- Boiled plantain or boiled yam, to serve

Instructions

1. If using fresh cocoyam corms, peel and rinse thoroughly to remove irritants, then grate finely. Transfer grated cocoyam to a large bowl and squeeze lightly to remove some excess liquid but keep enough moisture for binding.
2. Add the finely chopped cocoyam leaves to the grated corm along with the flaked smoked fish, chopped onion, garlic, and scotch bonnet pepper. Mix thoroughly until evenly combined.
3. Stir in the palm oil, ground crayfish (if using), ground pepper, salt, and lime juice. Mix until the mixture is uniformly colored and slightly sticky—this will help it hold shape when steamed.
4. Prepare banana leaves by passing over a low flame briefly to soften, or use lightly oiled aluminum foil. Portion the mixture into 4 equal amounts and wrap tightly in the leaves or foil, folding edges to seal.
5. Place wrapped parcels in a steamer basket over boiling water, cover, and steam 40–50 minutes until set and firm. Alternatively, arrange parcels in a covered pot with a little water on the bottom and steam on low.
6. Carefully unwrap parcels and serve Okok hot with boiled plantain or boiled yam and an extra drizzle of palm oil if desired.