FAMILY KITCHEN: FEEL THE AMAZING TASTE OF OFADA RICE
FAMILY KITCHEN: FEEL THE AMAZING TASTE OF OFADA RICE
By O.D Oluwasegun
Ofada rice is one of Nigeria most delicious local food you will enjoy.This mouth watering delicacy is native to the Yorubas in the western part of Nigeria but in recent times its appeal has got other people from other parts of the country craving for a luscious dish.Ofada rice is the best type of rice we should eat more often because it contain all of protein and it is good for elderly people and young one too as it provide all the vitamin we need in our bodies.
There are two types of ofada rice, one in a pack (it’s been process that no stone is found in it) the other one is local ofada rice which have stones (you have to remove the stones from the rice). Hence ,there is need for thorough washing of the rice before cooking.
How to prepare Ofada rice:
For 1cup of ofada rice
Take the ofada rice (after picking the stones out) put in a bowl wash it three times (if it is the local one) put it in a pot and pour two cup of water and let it boil for 15 minutes and change the water (because it smell when you boil it so its better if you change the water) put another two cup of water and put it on the fire and add your salt and let it cook for 20 minutes ( taste it if the ofada rice is hard add water) but if it is soft and its water is dry, put off the fire. Then, wrap in wrapping leaves (optional).
Ofada Stew/Sauce
Ingredients:
*2 Cups Palm oil
*10 Green bell pepper
*1 Red cotch bonnet pepper (Ata rodo) Hanabero pepper
*2 chili pepper
*1 (Red Bell pepper a.k.aTatashey
*1 Cup Locust beans rinsed (iru)
*500g Assorted meat: i used; Cow Intestines, Tripe a.ka. Sharki, pomo
*500g Beef (Red meat) cut in chunks
* Crayfish: 3tbsp. Ground
*1 Red Onion, diced
*2 Seasoning Cubes
*Salt to taste
Preparations:
Preparation of the assorted meat and beef stock:
Stage 1: When using assorted beef, it’s best to take out time to wash properly. If you intend using Pomo, scrape out the dirty inner part (which is usually Sandy & dirty) including the outer skin thoroughly. If you intend using intestines, turn inside out and remove the saturated fats there (most people keep it in though). If using tripe a.k.a Towel or sharki in the Nigerian local market, wash thoroughly.
Stage 2: Rinse the Beef and Assorted meat with clean water and dice into small bits, place in a medium sized pot. Add the seasoning cubes, Salt to taste, a little diced onion and 2-3 cups of water. Leave to cook till tender for about 30 mins to 1hr till tender. Set aside.
Remove the seeds from the green bell pepper and the red bell pepper thoroughly with clean water. Remove the stalk from the red Scotch bonnet (Ata Rodo) and chili and place in a blender. Puree till smooth. Pour the pepper puree in an empty pot and cook till all the liquid evaporates leaving the puree concentrated puree. Set aside.
Preparation of the Ofada Sauce
Stage 1: The first step is to heat up the oil till it becomes clear like vegetable oil. This process is known as bleaching. Bleaching is best done in a ventilated kitchen to avoid being choked by the smoke so ensure you open all the windows if you have to.
To bleach, pour the oil in a dry empty pot. It’s best to use an iron pot (preferably an old one) because bleaching tends to stain pots. Cover the pot and heat up on medium for about 10mins then turn off the burner. Leave the pot covered and do not open till the oil cools off. Please note that timing is very crucial during this process so you have to be careful to avoid the situation where the oil catches fire.
Once the bleaching is done, the palm oil would look more like vegetable oil.
Stage 2: Once the oil cools off, turn on the burner again. Add the diced onion and fry for about 2 minutes. Add the pepper puree and Iru,stir-fry for about 5 minutes till the oil separates from the puree (you’d see the oil settle at the top).
Stage 3: Add the crayfish, cooked assorted meat and gently add the stock little at a time. Stir and taste to see if you need some more salt or seasoning. Add if necessary, stir and cover the pot. Turn down the heat and leave to simmer for about 15 minutes. Turn off the burner and serve with Ofada Rice.
Wow! Our ofada rice ready for eating, already salivating.
Why not try this, this weekend and gain more love and respect from your husband and children. Don’t just cook junks but cook healthy food. Remain blessed.
FAMILY KITCHEN: FEEL THE AMAZING TASTE OF OFADA RICE
FAMILY KITCHEN: PREPARING OFADA RICE
