Efo Riro is a rich vegetable soup that’s native to the Yoruba people of Nigeria. Here’s a recipe that will get your taste buds tingling!
**The Best Efo Riro Recipe**
Ingredients:
– 500g Spinach leaves (alternatively, you can use Shoko leaves)
– 3 Red bell peppers (Tatashe)
– 2 Scotch bonnet peppers (Ata Rodo)
– 1 Large Onion
– 4 Smoked Mackerels (Titus Fish) (You can replace this with your choice of protein: beef, goat meat, smoked fish, dried fish, or a mix)
– Vegetable oil (Palm oil preferred for authenticity)
– 1 1/2 cups Locust beans (Iru)
– 2 cups Stock (from your cooked meat/fish)
– Salt to taste
– 2 Stock cubes (Maggi/Knorr)
– 1 teaspoon Crayfish (ground)
Instructions:
1. Start by preparing all your ingredients. Clean your spinach and chop it up. Soak it in boiling water for 1 minute to soften the leaves, then rinse it with cold water, and squeeze out the excess liquid.
Note: If you’re using frozen spinach, defrost it, then squeeze out any excess water.
2. Blend your bell peppers, scotch bonnet peppers, and half of your onion until smooth, then set aside.
3. Debone your smoked mackerels and break them up into your desired size, set aside.
4. Dice up the other half of your onion and set it aside, as well.
5. Place a pot on medium heat, add your palm oil. Allow it to heat up for around 1-2 minutes.
6. Add your diced onions to the oil and sauté until it’s translucent.
7. Add your blended pepper mix into the pot, stir, and let it cook and reduce for 5-7 minutes.
8. Add your locust beans (Iru) and crayfish to the pot and stir well.
9. Add your stock cubes and salt to taste. Stir and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes.
10. Add your smoked mackerel pieces into the pot. Stir gently so you don’t break up the fish.
11. Now, it’s time for the main ingredient. Add your spinach into the pot and stir it in until it’s well combined with the rest of the ingredients.
Note: At this stage, reduce the heat to low and do not cover the pot, so as not to overcook the spinach.
12. Let it cook for another few minutes, stirring occasionally so nothing sticks to the bottom.
Serve your Efo Riro with your choice of Eba, Semo, Amala, Fufu, or even Rice. Enjoy, and get ready to wow your family and friends!
Please remember, cooking is an art, and like any art, feel free to add a dash of personal creative touch. The ingredients and measurements are not set in stone, feel free to adjust to match your personal preference and taste.
We can hear your taste buds tingling!
