Thread: Succulent Mopane Worm

Now here's a dish for all of us MopaneTree.com members: The mopane worm is the larval stage of an emperor moth (Gonimbrasia belina) and feeds predominantly on mopane trees which cover large areas of most countries in southern Africa, including ours.

With a wingspan of up to 13,5 cm, the adult mopane emperor is a magnificent and conspicuously large moth that can cause consternation amongst the faint-hearted as it flaps around in a batlike manner.

These moths lay large batches of about 150 eggs on the trees in spring. After a few weeks the young larvae emerge and begin to feed pn the tree's leaves. When mature they are as thick as a man's finger and about seven centimetres long - all succulent protein.

Traditionally, villagers collect the protein-rich larvae by the sackful, then remove the intestines and either roast them or squash them flat and leave them to dry. In this form they can be stored for months and are a popular snack.

This dish takes things a bit further

Ingredients:

• Dried mopane worms
• Tomato (sliced)
• Onions
• Garlic
• Butter
• Olive oil
• Chilli sauce
• Salt, pepper

Method:

• Soak the dried worms in water until soft.
• Finely chop the onions and garlic and fry in a knob of butter and a splash of olive oil until golden brown (a minute or two)
• Add the rest of the ingredients to taste, especially the chillie sauce
• Cook over slow heat until tender
• Serve with pap or sadza

Photo credit: JackyR on Creative Commons GNU Free Documentation License