Salade complète au chitoumou (Salad of Whole Chitoumou)

Click on the image, above to submit to Pinterest.

Salade complète au chitoumou (Salad of Whole Chitoumou)

Salade complète au chitoumou (Salad of Whole Chitoumou) is a traditional Burkinabe (from Burkina Faso) recipe for a classic salad of lettuce leaves, vegetables, tomatoes and the edible caterpillar, chitoumou (Cirina butyrospermi). The full recipe is presented here and I hope you enjoy this classic Burkinabe version of: Salad of Whole Chitoumou (Salade complète au chitoumou).

prep time

15 minutes

cook time

15 minutes

Total Time:

30 minutes

Additional Time:

(+8 hours soaking)

Serves:

6–8

Rating:

Tags : Vegetable Recipes Burkina-faso Recipes

Chitoumou are a seasonal delicacy in Burkina Faso. They are also known as karité tree worms and are the caterpillars of the butterfly Cirina butyrospermi. When in season they are brought to the markets by the basketful and are valued as a source of protein. They live exclusively on the leaves of the Shea tree. Chitoumou is the Dioula peoples of Burkina Faso's name for the caterpillars.

Ingredients:

1 bunch of lettuce leaves
2 carrots, washed, scraped and cut into julienne strips
2 onions, peeled and sliced
salt, to taste
3 tomatoes
1 generous handful of fresh chitoumou
2 tbsp vinegar (red wine vinegar)
3 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp Jumbo Aroma (or liquid Maggi seasoning)

Method:

If the caterpillars are fresh, steam them for about 10 minutes to cook. If dried, soak in warm water over night and then steam.

Separate the lettuce leaves, rinse and drain. Wash the tomatoes and cut into strips.

Arrange the lettuce leaves in a bowl and set the sliced onions on top. Arrange the tomatoes on top and then the chitoumou (alternate the caterpillars and the tomato strips).

For the dressing, whisk together the vinegar and oil in a bowl. Beat in the Dijon mustard and the Jumbo Aroma then pour over the salad and serve immediately.