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Winter 2015

Recipes

A plate of Nigerian cuisine served with pounded yam on a wooden table

Yam Flour (Amala) Jute Leaves (Ewedu) and Bean Soup (Gbegiri) with stew Recipe
This recipe is a staple from the western part of Nigeria. This is especially common to the people of Ibadan and Oyo. But, particularly for people in Oyo town.
Amala is a by-product of yam while Ewedu (jute) leaves is boiled and slimy. Gbegiri a by-product of beans and Stew could be accompanied with any type of well-seasoned and spiced protein.

Yam Flour (Elubo)

Ingredients

  • 2 cups of Yam flour (Elubo) per serving
  • 3 – 4 cups of clean water

Cooking Instructions

  1. Bring water to boil at a temperature of 100°C or 212°F in a pot
  2. Scoop out 1 cup of water and set aside for later
  3. Pour yam flour into boiling water and stir with a wooden spatula
  4. Stir in a circular direction for consistency and smoothness to avoid lumps
  5. If too thick, add from the boiling water earlier set aside
  6. Cover pot to let steam for 2-3minutes, stir and bind together till you achieve your desired consistency
  7. Serve flipping hot

Ewedu (Jute Leaves)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of Ewedu (Jute leaves plucked from the stem)
  • 1½ cup clean water
  • 1 tablespoon grounded powder crayfish
  • A pinch of salt
  • ½ cube of seasoning powder
  • Meat stock (optional)
  • Potash (Kaun) optional
  • Locust Beans (Iru) optional

Cooking Instructions

  1. Rinse your jute leave into a pot
  2. Rinse locust beans and set aside
  3. Add a pinch of Potash and 1 cup of water
  4. Cook jute on medium heat until it comes to a boil.
  5. Add your seasoning to taste and locust beans
  6. After 5-6 minutes add crayfish powder and meat stock to taste, add water as needed if too thick
  7. Allow to boil for another 1 minute and check for taste if salt is needed, add as needed
  8. Once the jute leave is mildly hot, pour in blender and blend for 30 seconds

Note: Do not cover the pot while making the jute leave and it does not need too much water. It is meant to be drawy/slimy not watery.

Gbegiri (Bean Soup)

Ingredients

  • 2 cups of Beans
  • 8 -12 cups of water
  • 1 Seasoning cube
  • ¼ cup of Palm oil
  • ¼ cup of Crayfish
  • 3 pinch of salt to taste
  • ¼ Cup Meat stock (optional)
  • 1 Big Whole Red Bell Pepper
  • 2 small or medium-sized Scotch Bonnet pepper
  • 1 medium size onions
  • 1 small onions
  • Locust beans (Iru) Optional

Cooking Instructions

  1. Pour beans in cold or warm water and allow to soak for 10 minutes
  2. Peel beans by scrubbing against hands or in a blender
  3. Pour 6 cups of water in pot and 1 large onions
  4. Boil for 45 mins, once boiled, set aside and let cool, blend to a smooth pasty consistency
  5. Blend Bell pepper and scotch bonnet pepper and 1 small onion
  6. Pour palm oil in a pot set to medium heat, add pepper mix once hot
  7. Allow to cook for 10 mins, add locust beans, seasoning cubes and meat stock and cook for another 7 mins
  8. Add blended beans and powdered crayfish, if too thick add water
  9. Allow to cook for another 5 mins or to your likeness.

Note: Do not cover pot while cooking or cover half way but not completely

Stew

Ingredients

  • 4 Red Bell Peppers (Tatashe)
  • 2 Pepper (Sombo)
  • 6 Big Tomatoes (or whole can tomatoes)
  • 2 small Scotch Bonnet Peppers (Also known as Habanero pepper) – Add according to your tolerance for pepper
  • 1 Large Onions (or ginger powder)
  • 3 Garlic cloves
  • 1 table spoon of grated ginger
  • 1 Cup of Meat Stock (Optional)
  • Well-seasoned protein of choice pre-cooked
  • ¼ cup Cooking oil (of your choice)
  • 1-2 pinch Italian seasoning or thyme
  • 1-2 pinch Curry powder

Cooking Instructions

  1. Blend peppers, tomatoes, ginger, garlic and onions together till totally blended together
  2. Add some olive oil in your hot pot on medium heat
  3. Once hot, add the pepper mix
  4. Allow to boil for 20 minutes then add seasoning powder, curry and thyme and meat stock
  5. Allow to boil for 10 minutes, and taste for additional ingredients needed
  6. Add the pre-cooked protein of your choice and salt to taste.
  7. Cover and allow to simmer for another 7-10 minutes

Your food is ready, serve and enjoy.

N.B:

  • Jute leaves (Frozen green leafy vegetable) is available in Superstore and Walmart.
  • In Canada, you can get Beans for the bean soup (Gbegiri) from regular stores, black-eyed beans can also be used for this soup.
  • Yam Flour (Elubo) can be gotten in Africa or Asian store.