| Staple foods in the Nigerian diet | | | | anywhere in the world, as it uses |
| include: peanuts or ground-nuts, yams, | | | | ingredients that can be found in any |
| cassava, fish, rice, okra, bananas, | | | | local store. |
| guinea corn and millet, and palm nuts. | | | | The word "okra" comes from Africa and |
| They are usually starchy and Nigerians | | | | means "lady's fingers" in Igbo, one of |
| love to cook with a lot of pepper and | | | | the languages spoken in Nigeria. |
| spices especially those from the | | | | Although Okra originated from Africa, it |
| southwest and southeast. This recipe | | | | is now available around the world. Some |
| uses all local ingredients to create a | | | | people consider Okra alone is too gooey, |
| tasty and nourishing meal. | | | | but this tasty recipe makes good use of |
| These recipes celebrate the traditional | | | | it's properties. |
| food of Nigeria:- | | | | When buying fresh okra, look for young |
| Egusi Soup | | | | pods free of bruises, tender but not |
| Ground Egusi seeds give this soup a | | | | soft, and no more than 4 inches long. |
| unique color and flavour. If you can't | | | | 500g Okra |
| find Egusi seeds in your store, you can | | | | 2 Onions |
| substitute pumpkin seeds or Pepitas | | | | 180g Oil |
| which you can find in Latin American | | | | 3 cloves garlic |
| grocery stores. This soup is thickened | | | | 2 Tomatoes |
| with flour ground from seeds of gourds, | | | | 2 teaspoons of curry powder |
| melons, pumpkins, and squashes, many of | | | | ½ teaspoon of turmeric |
| which are native to Africa. | | | | Pinch of black pepper |
| 200 g Water Leaves | | | | ½ teaspoon of salt |
| 50 g Egusi seeds | | | | Slice one of the onions finely and fry |
| 1 teaspoon Dry Ground Red Pepper | | | | gently in oil. |
| 1 medium Onion | | | | Liquidise the remaining onion, tomatoes |
| 100ml Palm Oil | | | | and garlic. |
| 10g Dry Ground Crayfish | | | | Add this puree to the frying onions. |
| 120g Fresh Tomatoes | | | | Add the spices. |
| 100ml Water | | | | Fry gently for five minutes. |
| Salt & Pepper to taste | | | | Top and tail the okra and cut into |
| Wash the water leaves well in clean, | | | | pieces about 1cm thick. |
| fresh water. | | | | Add to the spices and cook gently for |
| Liquidise or pulverise the onions, | | | | 10-15 minutes. |
| tomatoes and egusi seeds until smooth. | | | | Serve with cooked rice and a meat stew, |
| Add the dry ground pepper and fry in | | | | for protein. |
| palm oil for five minutes. | | | | With thanks to the Nigerian people who |
| Add the water, put the lid on and cook | | | | made us so welcome in their homes, gave |
| for five minutes. | | | | us a love of traditional Nigerian food |
| Now add the water leaves, replace lid | | | | and who helped us overcome our fear of |
| and cook for a further five minutes. | | | | eating with our fingers! |
| Finally, add the crayfish and seasoning, | | | | For further tips and ideas for cooking |
| warming through well. | | | | great and traditional food from around |
| Serve with pounded yam or cooked rice | | | | the world, visit Nigerian Recipes & Food |
| and a meat stew, to provide protein. | | | | This article was submitted by Jen |
| Alternatively, serve with eba, fufu or | | | | Carter, owner of the World Food & |
| any suitable carbohydrate. | | | | Recipes website. |
| Curried Okra | | | | Jen has travelled around the world and |
| This traditional recipe for Okra (or | | | | enjoys collecting and sharing recipes |
| Okro, as it is called in some part of | | | | from other countries. |
| Nigeria) is one that can be created | | | | |