EFO RIRO (Phitchen)

 EFO RIRO VEGETABLE SOUP (NIGERIAN SPINACH STEW)

Ever been in  search of that soup that can make you feel afloat as though the law of gravity has lost its hold over you? Or have you been in search for that soup that soup that can make your boyfriend/girlfriend propose to by fire by force? Come closer jare, we gather they..lol Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you a special delicacy that has it’s Origin from the Western part of Nigeria, a 'Yorubaish' dish with the name “EFO RIRO”. The name shock you? Lol…  

Without wasting too much time, let’s get down into the making of this savory soup! Yipee! It is important to note that this soup is made with vegetables and these vegetables could vary in regards to your preferences; you could use Pumpkin leaves,  spinach as well as green could be used but for today, we’d be using spinach! So, let get into business!

Spinach: Prepare your Spinach freshly washed, although you can substitute for any other vegetable

Powdered Dried Shrimp: This is a great substitute for crayfish which is what is natively used.

Palm oil: The native frying oil of choice for this soup or stew; palm oil brings that distinct, savory West African taste that is synonymous with a lot of Nigerian stews. If you are trying to cut down on saturated fats, you can definitely substitute palm oil with vegetable oil or annatto oil. While you might lose that native palm oil flavor, this vegetable soup will still taste great without it!

Also note that smoked fish, meat, ponmo, gizzard, etc. are all welcomed in this meal.

NOW THE PREPARATION: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE.

(1) To prepare, blend half of a red onion with bell pepper, garlic, and hot pepper. Chop the other half of the red onion. In a deep saucepan or stock pot, heat the oil and saute the onions over medium heat until its golden brown.

(2) Add the blended pepper mix, and allow to cook over medium heat for about 30 minutes. Stir occasionally to avoid the mix from burning. After 30 minutes, the sauce should be significantly reduced, at this point season it with powdered dry shrimp and salt to taste. If cooking with cooked red meat or chicken, add them to the sauce at this point.

(3) Add the fresh shrimp to the sauce, then add the spinach. At this stage, the spinach may look too much, but allow to sit in the pot for about 1 minute and gently stir the stew and the spinach until the spinach is wilted till about half the its original volume. Adjust the seasoning with salt to taste if necessary. Don't leave your vegetables for too long on fire. 5minutes is enough or you lose the nutrients by overcooking it

And BOOM!! There you have it, our appetizing “EFO RIRO” is readyyy!

Another question you might want to ask is, what is “EFO RIRO” best served with? Well, Efo riro can be served with steamed rice, boiled or fried plantains, boiled yams or in typical Nigerian style with some type of fufu or pounded yam (my favorite!).

 

https://www.yummymedley.com/spinach-stew-yoruba-style/

JUBRIL OLALEKAN.