HOW TO PREPARE NIGERIAN'S NUTRITIOUS OFE AKU STEW

Image showing stages for preparing Ofe Aku

Ofe Akwu is a palm fruit stew that is native to the Igbos in Nigeria.
  It is similar to the Efik's Banga Soup,which is traditional prepared with native spices, known as Banga spices.These spices gives the soup a unique taste and flavor, which makes it a bit different from the Igbo's Ofe Akwu.
  It's common to see Ofe Akwu  served as a sauce for boiled Rice or yams,but you can also enjoy it with boiled plantains and a lot more.

Here's how to prepare it.

Ofe Akwu Ingredients: 

* Fresh Palm fruit
* boiled Beef
* cooked or dried fish (optional)
* stock fish (optional)
* Beef stock (from the cooked meat)
* fresh Mackerel fish(Titus fish)
* 2 Handful shredded Scent leaves OR Ugu leaves
* onion bulb, finely chopped
* ground crayfish
* stock cube
* Chili pepper
* Salt to taste

Cooking Directions

*Wash and boil the Palm fruit for 30 minutes and check to be sure the skin is soft enough and peels off easily.
Then pound lightly in a mortar to extract the oil. Make sure you don't break the nuts,while pounding. Pour in some hot water, mix well and strain the extract through a sieve.
Put in a pot and boil until it thickens and the oil rises to the top.

*Now, add the cooked beef, the fresh fish ,cooked stock fish and dried fish. Also add the chopped onions, the pepper, ground crayfish, stock cube and salt to taste.
Stir and Cover the pot;then leave to cook for 8 minutes.

*After 8 minutes,add the shredded leaves simmer for 2-3 minutes and your Ofe Akwu is ready. ENJOY.

NB
*If you'll be using the canned palm nut paste, pour into a pot and heat until the oil begins to rise to the top.

*Add the meat stock or water, depending on how thick or light you want the stew to be.The more stock you add the lighter, the soup will be.
Leave to boil for 10 minutes.

Now, add the cooked beef, the fresh fish ,cooked stock fish and dried fish. Also add the chopped onions,the pepper, ground crayfish,stock cube and salt to taste.
Stir and Cover the pot;then leave to cook for 8 minutes.
Your Ofe Aku is ready.