Calulu (Angolan Fish and Vegetable Stew)

Name: Calulu (Angolan Fish and Vegetable Stew)
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 70 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Angola
Ingredients: 1 lb dried salted fish, soaked and flaked; 1 lb fresh fish fillets; 2 cups sweet potato leaves or spinach; 2 eggplants, sliced; 1 onion, chopped; 2 tomatoes, chopped; 1/4 cup palm oil; 3 cloves garlic, minced; Salt to taste

Calulu (Angolan Fish and Vegetable Stew) photo 1

6 servings25 min prep45 min cookMedium Angola

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Calulu (Angolan Fish and Vegetable Stew)

Story updated September 17, 2026

Calulu, a stew of fish, greens, and vegetables in palm oil, has a debated history: many trace it to "caruru," a related dish that developed among enslaved Africans in Brazil and was carried back to Angola aboard Portuguese ships. Whatever its exact path, it took root so thoroughly using Angolan ingredients that it's now considered a national staple.

Ingredients

Scale:· 6 servings

1 lb dried salted fish, soaked and flaked
1 lb fresh fish fillets
2 cups sweet potato leaves or spinach
2 eggplants, sliced
1 onion, chopped
2 tomatoes, chopped
1/4 cup palm oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
Salt to taste

Instructions

1Soak the dried salted fish, changing the water a few times, then drain and flake.
2Heat palm oil in a pot and sauté onion and garlic until soft.
3Add tomatoes and cook until they break down into a sauce.
4Add both the salted and fresh fish along with the eggplant slices.
5Cover and simmer 20 minutes until the fish is cooked and the eggplant is tender.
6Stir in the sweet potato leaves and simmer another 10-15 minutes until wilted.
7Season with salt and serve with funge or rice.

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