Nov. 2: A Nigerian Dinner

Nigerian Okra Soup

Alex brought some ingredients with him to make a couple of Nigerian dishes for us. One thing he brought was dried cassava root. It has the consistency of hard dried milk, and once it is cooked up, it is like very thick oatmeal. The cassava is similar to the potato. Read to the end of the post- I tried to recreate the recipe as best as I could so you can try it, too!

Step 1- chopping the onion and pepper

Cassava prepared with boiling water. The lid went on for about 10 minutes, kind of like how we prepare minute rice.

This is the sauce, or soup. It was actually much more colorful in person. The red peppers looked really pretty!

Alex explaining how to eat the meal the traditional Nigerian way.

Karley giving it a go!

Jermaya isn't sure....

Jamo trying it....

 Another demonstration: First you make a ball and roll it up in your hands, then you dip it in the soup, then you eat it!

Explaining the process to Kaydey, who did like the cassava!

Thank you, Alex for making us a wonderful traditional Nigerian dinner! I loved the flavor of the sauce! Alex toned it down for us, and did not add any hot peppers, because he was afraid we would not be able to eat it. 

Nigerian Okra Soup

1 onion, chopped                      2 t curry

1 bag okra, chopped                black pepper to test

1 red pepper, diced                  1 T seasoned salt (Lawry’s)

Bake 2 or 3 tilapia filets

Put ½ C peanut oil in a soup pot. Sautee the onion and pepper in the oil. Add several cups of water and bring to a boil. Add the spices. Add the okra and continue boiling. The soup should be thick like a sauce. Cut tilapia up into bite sized pieces and add to soup.

Gari (Cassava)

2 cups potato flakes (best substitution for cassava I can come up with)

Boiling water

Prepare according to box.

Makes very thick mashed potatoes. Like oatmeal cookie dough thick.

How to eat: Put the soup in a bowl and the potatoes on your plate.  With your hand, take a wad of potatoes and dip it into your soup. Eat with your hand!!! When your hand gets sticky, dip it in water in a bowl by your plate.