This easy ugba [African oil bean seed] sauce recipe, featuring smoked turkey, mixed seafood, and kale, is a flavorful delight. It pairs excellently with yam, rice, eba, or boiled plantain, offering a versatile and satisfying addition to your meal repertoire.
Enjoy a burst of rich, smoky, and savory tastes in every bite!
Prep Time: 15 mins.
Cook Time: 45 mins.
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 6 people
Ingredients
• Two garlic cloves
• Three tomatoes
• Four Kale leaves
• ½ cup of mixed seafood
• One cup of sliced Ugba seed
• Two tablespoons of ground crayfish
• 250g of smoked turkey
• Two onions
• ¼ cup of palm oil
• One bell pepper
• Two scotch bonnet pepper
Method
1. Rinse ugba slices and let them drain.
2. Chop the smoked turkey into small pieces.
3. Clean the kale, discard the thick stems, and chop it finely.
4. Thaw your seafood mix.
5. Peel both onions. Thinly slice one and set it aside.
6. In a blender, combine the other onion, garlic, scotch bonnet, bell pepper, and tomatoes into a puree.
7. Warm the palm oil in a pot for about 30 seconds, then add the sliced onion. Cook it until it turns soft and clear.
8. Stir in the pepper-tomato blend and let it simmer for 15 minutes. Then add the smoked turkey, crayfish, and half a cup of water. Cover and let it cook for another 15 minutes.
9. Mix in the ugba and kale, cooking for 10 more minutes. Check the taste, and add salt if needed. Finally, add the seafood and cook for 5 more minutes before taking the pot off the heat.
Akara waffle
If you are a lover of Akara, you need to try the akara waffle. Its another dimension, one you will come to enjoy.
Prep Time: 30 mins.
Cook Time: 45 mins.
Soaking Time: 30 mins.
Total Time: 1 hour 40 mins.
Servings: 2 people
Ingredients
• One egg
• ½ cup of water used for blending
• One bell pepper
• One scotch bonnet pepper
• One medium onion
• One cup of brown beans
• Salt to taste
• Oil for greasing the waffle maker
Method
1. Prepare the Beans: Rinse the beans and soak them in water for at least 30 minutes.
2. Bean Peeling: Peel the beans using your preferred method.
3. Prepare Vegetables: Peel one onion and chop it into four parts. Prepare the bell pepper and scotch bonnet by removing their stalks.
4. Blend Ingredients: Break the bell pepper into pieces and place them in a blender along with the onion, scotch bonnet, and peeled beans. Add half a cup of water and blend until smooth.
5. Control Water Content: Be cautious not to add more water than suggested to maintain the akara’s shape.
6. Egg Preparation: Crack an egg, whisk it, and set it aside.
7. Mixing: Transfer the bean paste to a bowl. Add a pinch of salt and a tablespoon of the beaten egg. Stir well using a whisk or fork.
8. Waffle Maker Setup: Preheat your waffle maker to a low setting (for example, setting 2). A lower heat setting allows the akara to cook thoroughly.
9. Oil the Waffle Maker: Use a kitchen towel soaked in oil to lightly grease the waffle maker’s surface.
10. Cooking: Spoon the bean mixture into the waffle maker and close it. Let it cook for at least 1 minute.
11. Finishing Up: Turn off the waffle maker and let the akara sit inside for an additional minute before opening. Remove the akara carefully.
12. Repeat Oiling: Oil the waffle maker between each batch by applying oil with a tissue to the surface. This prevents sticking.
