AMALA, GBEGIRI, EWEDU AND STEW

Most Nigerians will agree that this classic is a highly savoury dish. The combination of Ewedu, Gbegiri and stew forms a mouthwatering slippery vegetable soup that aids the smooth passage of Amala down your oesophagus. I say yummy!

INGREDIENTS

– 300g or 4-6 cups Yam Flour(Elubo)

– 100g Beans

– 400g Ewedu vegetable

– 8 0r more Red pepper

–  10 Small Red Chilli Peppers

– 7 or more Fresh Tomatoes

– 1 bottle of palm oil

– 20g Locust beans

– ¼ oz Potassium salt

– 450g Beef/Fish

– 200g Snails

– 50g Crayfish

– Maggi/Salt

– Other seasonings

METHOD

STEP 1    Soak the beans for 30 minutes, remove the brown back by rubbing between your hands or use any technique you find convenient then wash thoroughly.

STEP 2    Pour the beans into a cooking pan, add enough water and a tiny bit of Potassium salt ( Kanhu) then leave to cook until the beans are very soft or watery then add  1 ½ cooking spoon of palm oil.

STEP 3     Add a bit of chilli pepper, a pinch of salt, Maggi cube, and then mash the beans together into a paste until it becomes creamy.  This is your Gbegiri. If too thick add some water.

STEP 4  Chop/slice, then blend the Ewedu, add it to a small pot of boiling water with a bit of Potassium salt (Kanhu) to soften, include the locust beans, crayfish and a pinch of salt to taste.  Cook the Ewedu until it feels slippery or draws.

STEP 5    Blend your red peppers, tomatoes and the small chilli peppers with onions to make a stew.

(To make the stew)

1. i. Add 1 or 2 cooking spoons of palm oil and slice few onions into a thick hot pan, allow to fry for 2-3minutes, then add the pepper plus some seasoning (curry, thyme, salt, Maggi, meat, snail).
2. ii. Leave all to cook for 10-12 minutes, taste it, if too hot or tasting raw pepper, leave to cook for further 10 minutes.

STEP 6        Add all the assorted meats, fish and snail. Boil water and prepare the yam flour. Sprinkle the yam flour into a boiling water and stir, till solid or texture is smooth.  Add a little bit of water, cover to steam together for 5 minutes and stir around with a wooden spoon until it becomes soft then make the dough.  Your Amala should be ready. Serve the stew with the Gbegiri and Ewedu on top, garnish with your selection of meat, snails etc.  Sit, relax,

enjoy your favourite drink.