I’m over the moon. Truly over the moon. At lunchtime today, I’ll be on a sushi-making course !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Slashed, rice-stuffed peppers & tea-smoked fish
The mind is like a traveller…it knows where to go when.
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A Feast of Mingau
First published in 2019. Intro photo changed in 2023 to update the name of Amolili (Nigerian Date Syrup) to Amoriri (Nigerian Black Plum Syrup) It’s difficult to think of cassava as a recent import to Nigeria because much of its classic cuisine is based on the tuber in different forms. From snacks of boiled cassava...
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A Plantain Primer: Get to Know ’em – Colour, Ripeness & More
Plantain is a starchy ‘fruit’ that’s used throughout its various stages of ripeness. Through its colour gradients, from green to black, the sweetness and texture change. It’s important to say that in Nigerian cooking, most traditional applications and preparation of plantain are savory from appetizer to mains and sides so even when sweet ripe plantains...
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On New Beginnings & Old Favourites: Pepper soup spice
I wrote this a year ago in January 2020 days after we moved. I wanted to be intentional about documenting the journey, and observing myself – the things that I did for comfort and what helped. Pepper soup helped. A lot! Even before we arrive, I know I’ll have pepper soup in the first few...
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How to make Green Ofada Stew
This post is prompted by me seeing green tatashe in the market and remembering that they are the base for Green ofada sauce. Quite simply, Green Ofada sauce is a green pepper stew base fried in epo gbigba, palm oil which has been bleached. Red Ofada sauce is made with a red pepper stew base,...
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The Fresh Peppers of Nigeria
It is the season of rain, of corn and ube, of Ose Nsukka and green tatashe, of green rodo. It is the season of mud and wetness underfoot, of spicy broths and blankets, long naps on the couch, tall pots of tea, fiery stews chock full of salapore and yoyo – small, transparent fish; river...
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How to Eat-Drink an Orange
Some things make you realise others, like how Akwugo’s love and appreciation for her mother shone through in her piece on Lessons and oranges. As I read through it, it occurred to me that there were so many different ways of partaking in the orange goodness, and how it is different across the world. It...