Obô Vegetables and Pineapple Rice
It was a dirty old afternoon in Budapest. True to form we came together for this quick lunch after a visit to the csarnok or market to secure other supplies like fresh lamb kidneys and sardines.
This dish in inspired by Francisco Alamô, Guide in Obô National Park, Sao Tome. Obô means nirvana, sanctuary, place of nothing.
The artichoke is our local replacement for matabala, a tuber vegetable, very nice and crunchy from Sao Tome.
The Habanero’s are very hard to get here. Hungarians don't know about them. You’ll have to bring them from Berlin, Vienna, or London. The malagita and piripiri could be replaced with Thai peppers, but take it easy. The aroma and heat of the Habanero’s should open your mouth’s glands like a sorbet. After the meal the rest of the flavors will follow.
Other combinations of vegetable like yam and cabbage are also good.
Obô Vegetables
Four-six Jerusalem artichokes, peeled
Two small potatoes, peeled
Half head brocolli, cleaned
Boil above to al dente in salt water, first artichokes, then potatoes
2 thin slices of Habanero/Scotch Bonnet pepper—fresh
Malagita/malagueta pepper (1)
Piripiri peppers (5)
10 grains of white pepper
25 grains whole cumin
2-3 garlic cloves
Teaspoon sea salt
Dried lime skin to taste
Teaspoon ginger (strong, wild if possible)
Cilantro
Juice from half a lemon
Juice from two key limes
Palm oil
Make above into fine paste, pound well, except palm oil.
Add lime/lemon juice, emulsifying
Scorch very quickly the mixture in two teaspoons palm oil once the vegetables are ready.
Lemon grass might be added (I forgot).
Pineapple Rice
1/3rd of a sweet pineapple, diced finely
1 piece fresh turmeric (try an Indian or Thai grocery for this), julienned and diced
5 white pepper corns
1 slice of Habanero
1 cup basmati rice
1 ½ teaspoons ghee/oil
Pinch of salt to taste
Soak rice for minimum 15 minutes in cold water, drain
Saute turmeric, pepper corns, pineapple a few minutes.
Add rice, stir.
Top up with 1 ½ cups water
Bring to boil, cover, lower heat, ready in 10-15 minutes
Then uncover and allow to sit and steam on its own accord
Serves two.
Creola beer from Sao Tome was missed.
Rice left over for tacos later in the day.
