I know, I’m here telling you about this sauce that rocks my world, and at the same time I’m asking, telling ‘Don’t judge me’. Don’t judge me by the chilies I eat, or the spices I like, don’t judge me. Don’t judge me, don’t judge my food, don’t judge my heritage. We like what we...
Tag: Nigerian seasonal produce
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...
New Produce for Old Seasons
I’m a rainy day girl, anytime, any day, anywhere. Sometimes I think of rain – of the drizzly sort as light water from heaven, an excess of morning dew. This season has been one of new discoveries, albeit a few and I’m glad to share them with you, by the month. June Chio In June...
Orange – Which Came First? The Fruit or the Colour?
It’s true. Forget everything you thought you knew! Oranges can be green, yellow, orange and shades in between. I raised three children on ‘orange’ oranges, dutifully bought from our local Albert Heijn in Wassenaar. They learnt to eat them quartered mostly and loved them. And then we moved to Nigeria, to green and almost sunshine...
Nigerian Seasonal Produce: #13, Oranges
Andddddddddddddddd, we’re back. Happy new year guys. I’m sorry it’s been so long – blame the new WordPress.org interface, and work, and life. I’ve missed you, missed sharing all the goodness of food. The first post is a guest one, from Akwugo of Ahshakasha.com, sharing everything about the common yet uncommonness of the orange, about...
New Yam Bake
New yam, new yam. By the end of June, I’m clamouring for the ground to give up its harvest of fresh yams – moist, white-fleshed, even if tasteless not as tasty as old yam, because by this time, old yam is both dry and spongy, and frankly hit and miss to select. When new yam...
Nigerian Street Food: Golden Roasted Corn with Ube
aka Agbado yinyan. It is the season for tasty oranges, cucumbers, pineapples and pyramids of Ube, purple African pears that must be roasted on hot coals or soaked in freshly boiled water to eat. When cooked, they taste like avocado, cut through with green olives and a touch of cream. It is our rainy season...
More Igboruba than OmoIgbo: Agbalumo & Identity
This piece is long overdue – sigh but finally, it’s here. Agbalumo is out of season but still…the words, the thought, the ideas remain evergreen! Thank you, Akay xxx I grew up in an Igbo household in Lagos. And while steeped in Igbo culture, I have always been around and influenced by Yoruba culture. I...
A Visual [Botanical?] Guide to Varieties of Agbalumo
It might surprise you – like it did I – that there are different varieties (or cultivars/ cultivated varieties?) of Agbalumo, distinct in shape, colour and size. Many factors come into play in describing fruit. On the basis of a number of observations, I dare say I can identify at least 6 varieties – here we...