FOOD

Did you know that Nigeria shares its rich cuisine with other West Africa countries Gambia Senegal particularly Jollof Rice.

A typical recipe that spreads across these areas is

• Palm or vegetable oil
• 1 or 2 finely chopped onions
• salt,
• black pepper,
• cayenne pepper according to taste

Seasoning

• 2 cups of chicken or beef stock or Maggi cubes
• 3 ripe tomatoes, chopped
• bell pepper or sweet green pepper, chopped
• green peas or string beans
• (carrots/cabbage chopped)
• par boiled rice
• 4 tbsp can tomato paste
• 2 tbsp dried shrimp or crayfish
• chopped chili pepper
• 2 or 3 crushed cloves of garlic
• bay leaf
• curry powder

Remove the meat and add the onions, the salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic, bay leaf and curry in the oil. Let the mixture fry lightly until the onions become tender. Add the stock and boil for about 20 minutes. Then add the dried shrimps/crayfish and the chili and bring to boil and simmer for 5 minutes.

Put the rice in a separate saucepan. Add water and tomato paste. Cover and cook for about 20 minutes until the rice is done (add water or meat or chicken water).

Another culinary experience found across the west African territory that is a well loved in Lagos is Yam Fu Fu - cooked yams

• two to three pounds of white yams
• one teaspoon butter
• salt, black or white pepper

Cook yams until they are soft. Remove peels from yams. Add butter, salt and pepper. Put everything in a bowl and mash. Shape the fu fu into balls and serve immediately with meat stew or any dish with a sauce.