Naija Cuisine (1)

I confess.... I'm a foodie!!! I love food, the preparations, the tasting and the serving of food to an appreciative audience.
I particularly love Nigerian food with the different colours, aromas, textures and oh my god!!!! the tastes!!!!
Hot and spicy, rich and creamy!!!! Naija Foods are one of a Kind! 


I have been privileged to travel to different parts of the world, I've tasted their food, thai stir fry, Kenyan matoke, Ghana's wakye, Senegal's Jollof ,spicy American Chicken wings and burgers but none compares to the scintillating tastes of Amala with gbegiri and ewedu with assorted meat or pounded yam with okoho and bushmeat, then Amora with dried fish and my all time favourite, Oha soup with stockfish, large chunks of beef accompanying a healthy ball of Akpu (if you know, you know!!!)

For the next couple of weeks , i will be sharing recipes for classical and exotic naija meals, soups and snacks.. 
Stay tuned as we kick of the cruise with .........


 

Fisherman Soup: 

FISHERMAN soup is one of the soups in the São Tomé and Príncipe, an African island nation close to the equator. Interestingly, fisherman soup has become a favourite among Nigerians.

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/07/kitchen-africa-make-fisherman-soup/

Especially the south south (Niger Delta) region of Nigeria, it is popular amongst the peoples of Cross Rivers and Akwa Ibom States. Rich in a variety of sea foods, its a delight to eat on its own or with a healthy ball of swallow as accompaniment.  I've even had it served with rice!!!!

Easy to make and a special dish for that special day.

Ingredients

·1kg Fresh fish

·2kg Fresh Nigerian tiger prawns

·500g Dried fish or smoked fish (or both)

·500g Stockfish (optional)

·1 cup Crayfish

·Atarodo 

·1/2 kg Fresh spinach or pumpkin leaves (ugwu)

·100g Fresh basil leaves

·2 Medium onions

·1 cooking spoon of Palm oil

·Salt to taste.

·Okro (optional)

Preparation Method

• Chop the onions into large chunks, chop the peppers and fresh basil
• Add in the fresh fish, tiger prawns, boiled dry fish, along with the chopped onions and peppers and dried crayfish and allow to cook for 5 minutes
• Add in the Okro and using a folding action mix these in gently with the rest of the ingredients. Cook the soup for another 5-7 minutes until the Okro is al dente
• Pour in the palm oil and cook for another 5 minutes
• Wash and chop the fresh spinach or pumpkin leaves and add these to the soup and allow to cook for another 5-7 minutes
• Remove from the heat and serve the soup while hot. An accompanying starch (Garri, our pounded yam is optional)

 For Visuals got to : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLTMLK7_q9Q

A mother's cry

A mother's Cry

The Praise singers dance and sing with frenzy, the girls all giggle and titter.
All gay and merry......

I wear a blank mask on my face
I cannot conjure a smile
Oh! How do I endure this pain
My little girl has been taken away!

To be a wife at age 12
An expectant mother maybe in two months time
To taste that fruit reserved for women
To forget her plays in the sand

I cry for her stolen childhood
I cry for she stands doomed
To do what her body cannot do
To swim against a terrible tide

But I will not cry alone
I raise my voice in loud lament
And soon all women pick up my cry
And drown the thundering drums

Soon our voices become the song
Our tears provide the melody
Till the world dances to our song
Then a mother's cry is done