Bite Me!

This vegetable is something I ate a couple of times whilst in the Gambia.  It’s known locally as sorrel, but it’s not the same as sorrel in the UK.  It’s actually what we know as hibiscus - the leaves are cooked in a similar way to spinach (see below, served in a calabash), and it’s often served with benachin (see recipe above).   The hibiscus flowers are made into a tea which has medicinal properties, and also into a refreshing juice drink that tastes a little like cranberry juice.  It’s a very versatile plant!