Yam Pepper Soup W/Palm Oil...Ekpeye Way!

Hmm! there's not enough words to describe how comforting this meal is. The proof is in you following this recipe judiciously and savoring it. My maternal grandmother; aka "Mama Idoke" has tremendous influence on my life and culinary passion. First she's a no-nonsense grandma, hardworking farmer and business woman and epitome of "whatever your passion is; be best at it" Hm...a little bit of her and my late father in me I guess.

Mama Idoke hauls grand children to farm whenever we visit for holidays.  Imagine been awakened too early, offered chewing sticks (local-chewing wood-tooth brush) to head to Igbo--a distance of about 10 to 12 miles (land and Sea). To make it worst, you start work with no breakfast because we leave too early (5 am). Grandma you are lucky you are not in America (America would have charged you for child cruelty/abuse) But hey! that's how home training goes and as you can see; it followed me to adulthood...true discipline. We work on whatever she wants us work on. We often question "Grandma, is there store for us to buy breakfast from? She'll say "Y'all are not eating today" and we will all scream we want to go back to our parents!!! Then comes about 10-11 am; she set up open fire with woods, harvest yam, fresh hot pepper (esebo nwankpi...all from the farm and voila! this meal is served and she calls us to sit  down and enjoy! Believe me, till she died, i couldn't tell where she hides equipment and non perishable ingredients for this meal.

Here's what you need;

1 lb. peeled, washed and cut yams (you can increase or reduce recipe to volume desired).

salt to taste

11/2 - 2 quarts of water

3 esebo nwankpi (don't have the name in English) or use green scotch bonnet- minced.

2 Knorr cubes

2-steaks each, Smoked or Baked Tilapia and Catfish.

2 Negro peppers-cracked

Fresh Palm oil for dunking and salt to taste.

Direction 

Combine cut yams, onions, salt, Knorr cubes, peppers and bring to boil. Add fish (flaked or use as is like me). and cook for 20 minutes or till yams are soft. Check for seasoning/salt and adjust if needed.

In a dunking bowl, pour fresh oil and salt to dunk or serve as shown here. Place yams in a dish and palm oil over it.

Oh my.....I just got transported to Idoke, Igbo farm and under tree we normally eat in that farm. 

Yam in Palm Oil

Smoked Tilapia & Catfish Pepper Soup