Vegan Banga Soup with Beets

Ingredients

• 2 cups Palm Fruit Concentrate
• 6 cups Vegetable Broth
• 1 large Onion
• 1 large Red Bell Pepper
• 1/2 Scotch Bonnet Pepper
• 2 medium Beets
• 2 tbsp Banga Spice Mix
• 1/2 cup Dried Bitter Leaves
• 1 tsp Salt

Instructions

1. 1Place the 2 medium beets in a medium saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium and cook for 30-40 minutes, or until the beets are easily pierced with a fork. Drain the beets, let them cool slightly, then peel them. Place the peeled beets in a blender and blend until smooth, creating a beet puree. Set aside.
2. 2Peel and roughly chop the 1 large onion. Remove the stem and seeds from the 1 large red bell pepper and roughly chop it. Finely mince the 1/2 scotch bonnet pepper (wear gloves if sensitive). Place the chopped onion, red bell pepper, and minced scotch bonnet pepper into a blender and blend until you have a smooth paste. Set aside.
3. 3Pour the 2 cups of palm fruit concentrate into a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Place the pot over medium heat (350°F / 175°C). Add the blended pepper mixture to the pot. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture darkens slightly and becomes fragrant.
4. 4Add the 2 tbsp of banga spice mix and the reserved beet puree to the pot. Stir well to combine with the palm fruit concentrate and pepper mixture. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until the spices are fragrant and the mixture is well incorporated.
5. 5Pour the 6 cups of vegetable broth into the pot. Stir everything together and bring the soup to a rolling boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer gently for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. The soup should thicken slightly.
6. 6Add the 1/2 cup of dried bitter leaves to the simmering soup. Stir them in and continue to cook, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes, or until the bitter leaves are tender. Stir in the 1 tsp of salt.
7. 7Taste the soup and add more salt if needed. Serve the vegan banga soup hot.

Substitutions

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