Naija Foodz Made Easy!: Melechi Owu (Ofe Aku, Banga Soup)

Naija Foodz Made Easy!: Melechi Owu (Ofe Aku, Banga Soup):     Finished Product!       Happiness is to be served this delicacy- be it in Igbo land, Delta/ Bini or Ekpeye. The recpe ...

Melechi Ohu (Ofe Aku, Banga Soup)

 

 

Finished Product!

 

 

 

Happiness is to be served this delicacy- be it in Igbo land, Delta/ Bini or Ekpeye. The recpe vary from region to region, tribe to tribe with one common denominator -PALM FRUIT/OIL OR CONCENTRATE. OTOO!

Naija Foodz Made Easy!: Zesty Jasmine Rice with Shrimp Veg Sauce

Naija Foodz Made Easy!: Zesty Jasmine Rice with Shrimp Veg Sauce:   You know what's funny? Nigerians love their long grain brown rice we call "Uncle Ben's Rice" even though what is po...

Zesty Jasmine Rice with Shrimp Veg Sauce

 

You know what's funny? Nigerians love their long grain brown rice we call "Uncle Ben's Rice" even though what is popularly known as that is not uncle ben's brand at all. Anyway, My family will eat rice everyday if you let it happen. Yesterday I made Penne Pasta with Nigerian Pesto (That's ANOTHER DAY'S BLOG). Believe it or not; a lot is still left inthe refrigerator. Somebody calls it  American food. Really? Ok... I get it! You'all want rice again? Yes! the ring leader echos. I thought, well, since I can't get them to slow down on rice consumption, I will jazz it up with veggies or foods they will not eat on a good day. Typical rice dishes in Nigeria includes; jollof rice, rice n stew, fried rice and coconut rice. Pretty boring sometimes going through same circle. Jasmine is not Nigerian typical rice and infact, it is rarely consumed. (I recall how hard I tried in our Restaurant to get my fellow Nigerians appreciate and or try to eat Jasmine or Basmati Rice, they kept asking "Nigerian Rice no dey Madam")?

Bottom line, I'm resolving to use familiar Nigerian food ingredients and infuse with unappreciative ones and get my finicky eaters to refine their palate.

This is jasmine rice steamed with olive oil and seasoned with salt only. Sauce contains sauteed veggies; yellow and green bell peppers, sweet corn, cherry tomatoes, onions, garlic, thyme, lemon zest, cracked red chilies, knorr cubes, ginger, salt and pepper with shrimp at last to avoid over cooking. Guess what? It went down great, especially when Jaden echos Mom! This is delicious! I knew I could sleep in peace tonight.

 

THANKS FOR COOKING WITH ME TONIGHT; TRY THIS RECIPE IN YOUR HOME AS YOU

STICK WITH ME FOR MORE NAIJA FOODS....... 

Pasta Bolognese-Nigerianised

 

Am on a mission to Nigerianise every continent/cultural cuisine. This is Spaghetti alla Bolognese. Although it is not the quitessencial pasta used- usually it is tagliatele, what the heck- am using spaghetti and the process is the same. This is a ragu of meat and vegetable stewed for a long time. It is a dish from the region of Bologna in Italy. I brownd 1 lb of ground beef, sauteed carrots, ginger and garlic, onions, red peppers, tomatoes and deglazed the pot with a cup of red wine, added chicken stock, knorr cube, 2 sctch bonnet pepper and stewed it on a low heat for 1 hour plus. I cooked spaghetti in a salted boiling water for 7 minutes (aldente ) and drained it into sauce. cooked it for more 5 minutes. The chicken here is because Nigerians wont eat w/out a piece of meat or chicken. My husband wont have it any other way.

Enjoy!

 

 

 

Otana ni Mini nri-Ugu (An Homage to Manma of Omuokpiriku- Elele Town, Rivers State of Nigeria)

 

 

I remember very well, Oh, on a market day, women, men and children would have harvested, fermented and washed some cassava and or fried garri to to sell in the market in order to generate some income. As early as 4-5am, there's a rush moment of preparation and traffic...all road leading to this great market. Manma, our land lord's daughter who was hearing challenged will prepare so immensely and come back with ingredients for this soup and other few more days of FOOD TREATS. Once she makes it back early, you know it's a great bargain day as same goes otherwise. She takes off her clothes and heads to the kitchen to whip up this meal. With sign language; she will invite anyone around to dine with her. Once she offered me and I tasted this vegetable soup with dry fish, goat meat and very fresh pumpkin leaf soup with a little melange to thicken? I got hooked. It had been in my repertoir since then!

 

TO YOU MANMA! 

Funked Up Nigerian Foods from Breakfast to Lunch,Dinner & Dessert)

 

 

 

Pots de Creme

 

My indulging Pecan Pie

 

Fish Tacos with an Attitude

 

Saturday Kinda Breakfast (Sausage & Herby Scrambled Eggs....

 

 

 

Feeling Light Eating (Fried lemon Catfish & Vegetable Medley)

 

 

                                                        


                                                          Custard & Moi Moi - So Naija!