Hello everyone!
My name is Awongo Wealth Robert.
I want to share a little bit of my culture with you.
You might be wondering what culture I'm talking about...
Well... wonder no more! Cause today you will learn a little bit about the...
Kalabari People!
Yes... you heard right! An indigenous tribe found in the heart of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. I must say that
We are one of the most beautiful cultures in the world...
The Kalabari people are known for their language, way of dressing as well as the food!
Speaking of their food... Ever tasted the 'Iku Soup' aka 'Cocoyam Soup'? If you have not tasted it yet, then it's time you did that.
I would be sharing the recipe to this delicious soup with you all my lovely audience... Afterall, the best way to enjoy something is by sharing it with others right?
Alrighty then... To prepare the Iku soup, you will need the following ingredients;
- Cocoyam (blended or boiled and pounded)
- Fresh fish
- Periwinkle
- Whelks aka Ngolo
- Fresh Prawns
- Fresh pepper (blended)
- Salt
- Seasoning cubes
- Palm oil
- Onions
- Uziza leave aka piper guineense
The above items are subject to user's discretion....
Preparation Method
Get your fish properly cleaned by removing guts, scales, gills etc wash thoroughly and put in a pot.
Add salt, pepper, onions and seasoning cubes as desired.
Steam for a few minutes.
In another pot, add palm oil and allow to heat up..
Add a little bit of salt
Add your onions and allow to fry a bit.
Add the whelks, periwinkles and fresh prawns into the hot oil..
Add some fresh pepper and seasoning cubes..
Allow to heat up for 3 mins or until the prawns changes colour.
Add a bit of water to the pot... The quantity of water depends on the quantity of ingredients. Basically you do not want too much water in it, just enough to cover the ingredients.
Bring the pot to a boil till the palm oil mixes with the water to form a yellowish soup..
Add the cocoyam puree into the boiling soup... this acts as a thickener.
You will notice that the soup has thickened after adding the cocoyam, all to boil for 2 minutes.
Lower the gas and pour the contents of the pot into the steamed fish.
Set the pot on the stove and allow to boils some, taste the soup to adjust taste.
The last step is to add the Uziza leaves. Once it is added, allow the soup to mix with the leaves for a minute...
The Iku soup is ready!
You can serve it with a bowl of baked garri or pounded yam.
So now that you've been introduced to the Kalabari people's 'Iku Soup' go ahead and make it for you and your loved ones! Of course it's a great way to learn something new in 2021!
Thanks for taking the time to read my post! Bye for now...
