By Patricia Uyeh

Efo riro is a soup recipe from the South-western part of Nigeria. It is very rich in nutrients and requires less stress when cooking.

Here are the ingredients you need for this delicacy:

-Beef

-Shaki (cow tripe)

-Smoked fish

-Dry fish

-Stock fish

-20 cl palm oil

-Frozen Spinach: 1 kg

-2 tablespoons ground crayfish

-1 medium onion

-3 big stock cubes (spinach needs more seasoning)

-Salt & Habanero / Scotch Bonnet peppers (to taste)

Before you cook Efo Riro

Ensure you soak the stockfish and dry fish for a few hours. The length of time depends on how hard the stock fish is. Mine soaks in under 1 hour. When soft, clean the fish, remove the bones and separate them into small pieces.

Then cut the frozen spinach and wring out the excess water when fully defrosted.

Also, prepare other ingredients: pound/blitz the pepper, cut the onions and grind the crayfish.

Cooking Directions:

Start with cooking the shaki first with as little water as possible (see video below) as it is the toughest meat in the bunch. This soup should have as little water as possible so add small amounts of water at a time and top it up as you cook.

When the shaki starts to curl, add the dry fish and stockfish.

When the shaki is almost done, add beef, stock cubes and onions and cook till all the meat and fish are well done.

Top up the water to about half the contents of the pot. Add the crayfish, smoked fish, pepper and palm oil.

Cover the pot and cook at high heat till the oil has changed from red to yellow.

Add the spinach or any other soft vegetable: pumpkin, water leaves etc.

Cover and cook still it gets a good boil, taking care not to overcook the vegetables. Add salt to taste and leave to simmer for 2 more minutes and your Efo riro is ready to eat.

Efo Riro could be eaten with Semolina, Amala, Pounded Yam, Eba or any other fufu meal.

Bon Appetit!

Recipe: AllNigerian recipes

Image credit: @9jafoodie