nigerian recipes

Nigerian People’s Love Affair With Soy Sauce Explained

As a kid, soy sauce was one of those condiments in my mother’s kitchen that I didn’t quite understand. I don’t think she understood it either. It was just there on the rack, collecting dust and grease. On days when I tried to test my culinary skills, I’d get lucky with curry and thyme, but never with soy sauce. It was too salty, and once, the dark brown colour left my fried egg a complete mess. Like my mum, I abandoned it on the rack, hardly using it even when a recipe called for it.

Nine years later, I crossed paths with soy sauce again while I was at the NYSC orientation camp in Iyana Ipaja. Camp food was unpleasant, and it was hard to tell which Mami Market vendors had the best offering. But one name kept coming up from my roommates: Korede Spaghetti. Everyone swore by how tasty it was until I made a trip to Mami Market to find out for myself.

I’d make about 15 trips to Korede’s stall throughout my stay in camp. There was something different about his stir-fried spaghetti and jollof. The colour was a dark brownish red that leaned towards waakye but just wasn’t as dark. It wasn’t until my final week in camp that I discovered one of his not-so-secret ingredients.

That day, I’d gotten to his stall a little too early and was lucky to watch him season the pasta. As someone who enjoyed cooking, I paid attention to everything that went into his wok, as I had plans to recreate the recipe once I got out of camp. Right there, I watched him pull out a bottle of soy sauce — the same one we’d abandoned in my mother’s kitchen — and sprinkle a generous drizzle on the pasta. I watched the pasta go from bright red to the dark brownish red that had been a mystery all the while.

The next time I was at a supermarket, I picked two bottles of soy sauce off the rack, and from that moment on, there was no going back. But I wasn’t alone in my culinary discovery.

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A culinary fraud

On Monday, December 19, Nigerians came across a whistleblower’s tweet raising concerns over the many versions of Amoy, a Japanese brand that had gained dominance in the Nigerian soy sauce market. The X user shared pictures of the product with altered spellings from prominent supermarkets and department stores in Nigeria.

The tweet would serve as a wake-up call to Nigerians who dashed to their kitchens to check their condiment racks. Pictures of soy sauce bottles with AMQY, AMOY’c and AMOYI, soon flooded the internet, with only a few boasting of the original product.

Amid the bigger conversation of the health and safety hazards to buyers of fake food products, other questions loomed: Why are Nigerians invested in soy sauce? What do they cook with it?” I had to find out.

Taiye discovered soy sauce through Nigerian food bloggers on Instagram and YouTube who all seemingly had a craze for stir-fry and gravy recipes.

“Since the food bloggers swore by it, I knew I had to stock up. I love anything stir-fry, so I use it for my stir-fried rice, spaghetti and noodles. It also gives a flavour that’s common to Asian recipes. And since most stir-fry recipes have an Asian origin, it made sense to me to use an ingredient they use to make the meal as authentic to the recipe as possible.”

“I started a stir-fry pasta and jollof rice business four months after NYSC but noticed something was off about the colour of the food I sold. Mine came out like the regular jollof rice and pasta, and I didn’t like it. I checked the pages of food vendors in Lagos who sold the same meals, and noticed the distinct colour of their meals. In their tutorials, they claimed soy sauce was the secret behind the colour, but I wasn’t convinced. Later, I visited a caterer friend in Lagos and saw her using it to cook. I didn’t bother to ask questions, but I returned to Abeokuta with packs of dark soy sauce. I can’t remember if I even got the real deal or one of the counterfeits. But that hack changed the game for my business before I shut it down to relocate,” Damilola, a food vendor said.

One thing is clear, for most Nigerians, soy sauce is first considered for the aesthetics it brings to meals above everything else.

“I knew it as an ingredient for seasoning, but I just never knew how to use it. It’s salty and doesn’t give the savoury sweetness you’d get from seasoning cubes,” Kehinde, a soy-sauce consumer, shared. “One day, I was going through my WhatsApp status and one of my male friends who loved cooking shared a picture of this wicked-looking stir-fry rice. I’d made stir-fry in the past, but it never had the colour I saw in my friend’s photo. I stormed his DM with a simple comment: “How did you get it to look this way?” His response? Soy sauce. And that was how I returned to this ingredient I once disregarded.”

Fake or original, is soy sauce safe?

Some Nigerians, who aren’t fans of soy sauce have questions about the risk factors of a condiment that’s seemingly high in sodium.

Here’s a breakdown of one tablespoon of soy sauce according to experts:

Calories: 8

Carbohydrates: 1 gram

Fat: 0 grams

Protein: 1 gram

Sodium: 902 mg

Just one tablespoon provides 38% of the Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) of sodium. Moderation is key and it is advisable to not pair the sauce with processed food. In Nigeria, where soy sauce is mostly combined with processed chicken franks and sausages, the health concerns raised are valid.

Since I rediscovered soy sauce during NYSC in 2018, my relationship with the condiment has been at a safe arm’s length. I’ve always known there was something much too salty about that sauce. It only makes a grand appearance in my kitchen the few times I’m in the mood for stir-fry pasta or rice. And with the current conversation surrounding fake products everywhere, I’m caught in a web of confusion. Do I check that I have the correct brand of Amoy in my cabinet or postpone till my next stir-fry craving jumps out sometime in 2024?

QUIZ: What Brand of Soy Sauce Are You?

Adeyinka Odutuyo

December 19, 2023

Chopist

Nigerian Food, nigerian recipes, Nigerians, soy sauce
7 Lesser-Known Meat Delicacies You Should Totally Try

While suya, beef kebab and catfish pepper soup are doing the Lord’s work, there are other lesser-known meat delicacies that should be on your radar.

If you haven’t tried any of these meat recipes, you’re depriving your tastebuds of the sweet things of life, and honestly, why that?

Dambu nama

The first time I had dambu nama was at a friend’s family home in Osogbo. His dad came home from Kaduna that weekend with it, and it was served as a side with rice. I wasn’t sure what it was, but it tasted good and chewy just like meat. My suspicions were right when I asked my friend.

Dambu nama is a popular delicacy in northern Nigeria, and it’s essentially spicy shredded meat. However, unlike the common shredded meat for stir fry recipes, the dambu nama meat is shredded so thin it feels like cotton candy floss. It can be made with cow, ram or chicken meat. Full recipe here.

Ngwo ngwo

This is a goat offal pepper soup delicacy from the eastern parts of Nigeria. It’s made from a goat’s innards: the liver, kidney, heart, spleen, tripe, and sometimes, bits of flesh. It’s similar to nkwobi (cow feet), but the difference is in the parts used for the delicacy. Find a complete recipe here.

Chicken yassa

As a certified onion hater, I once watched in horror as a chef on Food Network sliced up three large bulbs of onion on chicken cuts. I couldn’t understand why a recipe needed so much onion, but that was the first time I heard about chicken yassa. A year or two later, I watched a Nigerian food blogger recreate the recipe, and it didn’t seem like a bad idea at all. Chicken yassa is a Senegalese dish made with chicken, caramelised onions, lemon and a mix of spices. This is the complete recipe.

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Salted meat (eran oniyo)

Salted meat AKA “eran oniyo” is a Muslim meat recipe that stemmed from preserving ram/cow meat with salt during sallah. All that heavy salt coating gives the meat a different taste than meat preserved in the freezer or by frying. Salted meat is best enjoyed with egusi soup, yam pottage or stews.

Liver sauce

If you can stomach the idea of liver in your sauce, then you’ll have no problem going bigger with a liver sauce recipe. Apart from the fact that it’s a healthy meal packed with iron supplements, you’ll also give your taste buds a treat. Liver sauce can be enjoyed with rice, spaghetti or eaten alone. Find the liver sauce recipe here.

Shoko

Jollof rice isn’t the only meal we Nigerians share with our Ghanaian neighbours — I raise you shoko. Although the name is similar to the popular Yoruba vegetable soup “efo shoko”, this West African beef stew is slightly different. Shoko is prepared with amaranth leaves, tomatoes and a generous amount of beef. The seasoning spices introduce a delicious flavour to the beef. You can enjoy this sauce with rice, plantain or fufu. Find a full recipe here.

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Adeyinka Odutuyo

August 21, 2023

Chopist

Food in Nigeria, nigerian recipes, Nigerians
Tips for the Perfect Grilled Turkey Wings, According to an Owambe Expert

If you’re up-to-date with the Lagos Owambe scene, you’d know that jollof rice, fried rice and abula have lost their collective claim of being the life of the party. Heavy isale-eko sigh.

Source: Instagram/Owambespicey

These days, party guests are after the small chops, colourful cocktails, and most importantly, grilled turkey wings. I caught up with an owambe grill vendor to ask one question: How can I make this turkey in the comfort of my home? He had some answers for me.

Get a “confam” plug for big turkey wings

“You won’t get the satisfaction you want with bite-size turkey wings, so it’s important to go for the big ones. However, traders prefer to sell the small sizes to the JJCs while they reserve the big sizes for their OG customers. If you have a trusted plug, you’ll get a good one. And make sure it’s properly frozen.”

Barkono pepper is bae

“Pepper is expensive, so you can improvise using barkono pepper. It’s available at the local market, but you have to grind it into a powdery form after buying. It gives your turkey wings a reddish/golden brown colour and packs moderate heat.”

Marinating is important

“The longer you marinate it, the tastier your grilled turkey will be. Because I take large orders, I try to keep it to an hour or two, but you can marinate overnight and store it in the fridge if you aren’t in a rush. This is the best way to let all that seasoning sip into your turkey wings. For your marinade, add some seasoning cubes and spices to your dry pepper mix, salt and vegetable oil, and you’re good to go. You can also add BBQ sauce if you want.”

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Toss and turn from time to time

Source: Instagram/Owambespicey

“Burnt turkey has a bitter taste that can ruin the overall experience. So, it’s important to stay with your grill like it’s dodo you’re frying. If you look away for a short while, you might end up with burnt turkey. This is also the best way to ensure both sides are evenly cooked.”

Start with a checklist

“You don’t want to get halfway in before remembering you need a picker, for example; you’ll end up with burnt turkey wings. Before you start, check your charcoal supply, get an apron, wear gloves. Put everything you need together to avoid leaving the grill area.”

Always have a side

“Not saying you can’t have the turkey alone, but with sides, you’ll be on a whole different level of vibes. The owambe way to go is fried yam, plantain or sweet potato with pepper sauce and coleslaw.”

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Adeyinka Odutuyo

August 19, 2023

Chopist

lagos owambe, nigerian recipes, Nigerians, turkey
Meat and Myths: 7 Nigerians Share Their Meat Taboos

I visited a friend once and almost had a panic attack when I saw him crush seasoning cubes over large chunks of snake meat. He’d killed it earlier and decided to make himself a pot of soup — a norm in his family.

Of course, I couldn’t bring myself to eat it because of my granny’s stern warning: “We don’t eat snake in this family.” Granny never explained why, but many have their own unspoken meat consumption taboos. I got some people to share theirs with me today.

“I’ve never had chicken anus” — Goke*

Growing up, my granny lived with us and did a lot of the cooking because my mum had to go to work. Whenever she sent us to buy a full chicken, she was always like, “Tell them to take out the anus when they’re cutting it.” I always followed her orders even though I didn’t know why. I didn’t really care. Then one time, my cousin went to buy the chicken because I wasn’t around, but he forgot to tell the seller to take out the anus. Granny made a fuss, so I had to ask what would happen if we ate the chicken’s anus. That was when she said it turns you into a gossip, and you’ll keep talking about people even when you’re not asked. I found that ridiculous, but now, it’s a part of my ritual, to never eat a chicken’s anus.

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“It’s forbidden to consume pork meat as a Muslim” — Qudus*

In all my 27 years on earth, I’ve never eaten pork meat. I come from a strong Muslim background, and my dad doesn’t joke with matters of the deen. I’ve not done any personal research, but from sermons I’ve heard at the mosque, pork is gotten from pigs, and that makes it haram (forbidden) for Muslims. Pig is considered an unclean animal because it consumes dead animals, and sometimes faeces. Consuming an animal like that will make you spiritually impure. I’ve heard there are exceptions for extreme starvation or when forced to consume it, but I’ve never been in any of those situations.

“My grandmother doesn’t eat ram meat” — Boboye*

During Christmas, one of my uncles bought a ram for the celebrations. That was when my grandmother mentioned that she couldn’t consume it. I know it has something to do with her lineage. Some old people have idol-worshipping backgrounds — na civilisation turn them to Christians. She always warns us about “ewo idile”, a set of taboos peculiar to different families. Her children are free to consume what they like sha. I just think it’s a personal belief she held on to despite her conversion to Christianity.

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“I don’t eat the meat of any animal I killed” — Emmanuel*

I’d rather eat frozen chicken than eat a chicken I killed or watched people kill; the blood and butchering throw me off-guard. I won’t even eat from the soup or stew made with the meat. After watching the animal struggle until they die? Yeah… I’m not eating that. It’s difficult to process seeing them alive in one moment and dead in the pot in the next. I also can’t eat certain parts of an animal. I once bought frozen chicken and saw some part of the head was still on it; I asked that they cut it off.

“My husband doesn’t eat duck meat” — Adeola*

I once tried to recreate a duck curry recipe I saw on Instagram, and it didn’t go well. I got home that evening, and my husband, who loves snooping around when I return with groceries, saw the pack of duck meat I got from Shoprite. He flared up, but I wasn’t having it because in all our years together, he’d never mentioned anything about not consuming duck. I asked why, and he explained that it was a ground rule in his family growing up in Benin. Apparently, witches shapeshift into ducks. I made the recipe and ate it alone.

“It’s a tradition not to consume crab meat in my house” — Toba*

I’ve never been able to eat crab meat since I was a child. If there’s crab in any of my meals, best believe I’ll throw up all day. Maybe I have some kind of allergy. It’s the same with crayfish and prawns, but I can still manage those ones on rare occasions. Now, my wife knows not to buy crab when she’s making soup. Even my kids know that daddy doesn’t like crab, so I imagine them growing up and coming up with their own stories of why they can’t eat crab. Lol.

“My grandma forbids donkey meat for us” — Paul*

I don’t think there’s any type of meat I can’t consume. I love trying out different meals. However, my grandma has warned us several times against eating donkey meat. According to her, it’s used to carry corpse and is known for heavy suffering. Anyway, I’ve not seen donkey meat to eat anywhere, so I’ve never been in a position where I had to contemplate eating it or not.

We’re throwing the biggest meat festival in Lagos. Grab your tickets to Burning Ram here.

Adeyinka Odutuyo

August 18, 2023

Chopist

Funny, meat festival, nigerian recipes, Nigerians
What Are Your Protein Options With a ₦1k Budget?

It’s getting harder to enjoy the simple things of life in Nigeria, so we really need Jagaban to do something fast about the food inflation problem.

Chicken, turkey and beef have now become optional in a lot of homes, with some people saving it for special occasions only. God, abeg. Things are THAT bad, and that’s why this article exists.

Eggs

You might not get the chewy and juicy satisfaction that beef or turkey gives, but at least, protein deficiency will have nothing on you. Bonus point if you deep fry your boiled eggs and soak them in the stew.

Ponmo

Don’t go for the regular type. Ask the market traders for “white ponmo”. It’s tastier, cleaner and sometimes comes with small chunks of beef! You should also season and boil properly before throwing in your soup.

Round fish (panla)

Think of how garri saves life, and you’ll come to truly appreciate this fish. With ₦1000, you can get five to eight pieces, depending on the size and market you’re buying from.

Dry red prawn

Source: 24 hours market

Best for when you’re making budget soups like ogbono, okra or egusi. A small peak milk tin of them sells for ₦500 – ₦700.

Crabs

Source: Alice

Forget the expensive price points at restaurants and fast-food joints, crabs are one of the cheapest seafood options in the market. A thousand naira worth might even be too much for a family.

Dried crayfish

Source: Market NG

You might not get anything to chew on, but this will elevate the taste of your vegetable, ogbono or egusi soups.

Chicken feet

Source: Simply Recipes

Forget the bad PR, this is actually a great protein option you should consider whether you’re on a budget or not. The major key here is to clean and season properly.

Adeyinka Odutuyo

August 1, 2023

Chopist

Nigerian Food, nigerian recipes, Nigerians, protein
Tomato Is Expensive Again, but These Simple Hacks Will Help

The seasonal hike in the price of tomato is upon us again, and it wasn’t a nice experience for Muslims who had a lot of heavy cooking to do for the just concluded Eid.

While we hope and pray Jagaban does something about it, these hacks will help you save more while having enough stew in your pot.

Carrots

Source: Guardian

Buy as many carrots as you want — they’re really cheap — clean them properly, slice and blend with some equally cheap rodo. The taste and colour will be the same as your average tomato puree.

Tomato paste

Source: Pricepally

This is the ultimate lifesaver in these trying times. And if you’re worried about retaining the spice in your soup, go for the sachet variants with pepper.

Dried red chilli

Source: Kitchen Butterly

You’ll mostly find traders from the north selling this at your local market. It’s cheaper and a great supplement for a fuller pot of soup. Rehydrate it by soaking in hot water for some minutes before blending.

Cameroon pepper

Source: Safoodnspices

With as little as ₦50 – 100, you’ll get all the spice even the almighty ata rodo can’t bring to the table. Consider these for soups like ogbono and egusi, or when you want to make concoction rice.

Dried rodo and tatashe mix

Source: Kitchenbutterfly

This is an economical option for making stew and all kinds of sauces. But you have to remove the seeds and rehydrate the flesh with water before use.

Sombo or bawa

Source: GidiMart

Also known as cayenne pepper, sombo is a great option for thickening your stew and giving that bright red colour. It’s also cheaper than tatashe.

Barkono

If you’re looking to make grilled turkey, fish or chicken, you must be Dangote’s son. But if for some reason, you still can’t afford tomatoes, this pepper will save you the extra bucks. It’s much cheaper than your regular pepper mix and can be found at your local market.

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Adeyinka Odutuyo

July 1, 2023

Chopist

nigerian recipes, Nigerians, tomatoes
Too Much Salt in Your Food? Protect Your Reputation With These Hacks

We’ve all had those bad days when our African ancestors forget to whisper in our ears and help us gauge the salt while cooking.

But don’t worry, we’ve checked, and these hacks will make sure your bragging right is intact even after messing shit up in the kitchen.

Dilute with water

What water cannot fix does not exist, and this includes your over-salted meal. Just make sure you go easy with the quantity. You’ll be causing more trouble if you also have to deal with watery soup.

Add acid

Source: Eni stores

That’s right. Ingredients like lemon juice and vinegar have high acidic levels that can cut through the saltiness and distract the tongue. Like water, make sure you add it with caution depending on the quantity of the meal.

Add dairy

This might not work with traditional meals, but if you’re making pasta or rice, for example, a moderate dash of coconut milk or heavy cream will reduce the saltiness.

Rinse and recook

This hack works best if you’ve gone overboard with salt while seasoning protein. Drain the water, rinse and cook again with a more controlled salt measurement.

Potato

Source: LiveScience

If you don’t rate potatoes, you better have a rethink. Just peel a potato, cut it into large pieces, rinse and place inside your over-salted meal. Wait for five to ten minutes then remove them. The potato will absorb the excess salt in your meal.

Recook

This should be the last option to consider when the damage is completely beyond repair. Remember, high consumption of salt isn’t good for your health.

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Adeyinka Odutuyo

June 24, 2023

Chopist

kitchen, nigerian recipes, Nigerians, Quick recipes
Relax, Oreo Puff Puff Isn’t Actually That Bad

If you recently scrolled through Twitter, you’ve probably seen Nigerians blowing hot after Tinu Erin, a UK-based foodpreneur shared pictures of Oreo puff-puff. How could she?

Anyway, I spoke with Tinu and Oreo puff-puff doesn’t even top the list of her crazy but successful puff-puff experiments.

Oreo PuffPuff 😋 pic.twitter.com/66FQqwd2zM
— tk. (@TinuKuye) June 18, 2023

Your Oreo puff-puff is driving Nigerians crazy at the moment. Why do you think so?

A lot of them haven’t seen or heard of Oreo puff-puff till now.

What inspired the twist?

I like to experiment with cooking. Oreo puff-puff isn’t the craziest thing I’ve done with puff-puff. I’ve also made red velvet puff-puff, coconut puff-puff, kinder Bueno, etc. Lol. Food evolves, and there’s nothing wrong with experimenting once in a while.

I mean, if people can add pepper and onions to puff-puff, why can’t I add Oreos?

Fair point. Do you find regular puff-puff boring?

No, I don’t. I actually have a readymade puff-puff mix line with three flavours. I love puff whether it’s the regular one, chocolate or spicy—I’m here for all of it.

You might have to start a puff-puff fan club.

I’m on it.

Without giving away your full recipe, how does one make Oreo puff-puff?

It’s pretty much the same way you make regular puff-puff. Just before frying your batter, dip your Oreo cookies (or whatever you’re crazy enough to try) in the batter. Scoop it like you would regular puff-puff and make sure the batter covers the whole Oreo, and then fry.

Now I want to try it.

Please do, I promise it’s not that bad. Also, it slaps with ice cream.

I’ll be back with a review. So, if you had to break a Guinness World Record for puff-puff, what will that be?

I think a record I could break would be the number of unique puff-puff flavours I can think up and make.

What’s your hot take on Nigerian finger food?

We make the best finger food, no one can deny that. I feel like we need to experiment more and try new things. I wonder how people will react to my Asun spring rolls and Suya spring rolls.

I love the sound of Asun and Suya spring rolls.

It’s delicious.

Please take the survey here.

Adeyinka Odutuyo

June 20, 2023

Chopist, Eat

nigerian recipes, Nigerians
A Single Pringle’s Food Guide to Surviving the Rainy Season

The singles have had a jolly-good time since the beginning year (except on Valentine’s Day sha) but since we’re now in the rainy season, they have all of our best wishes.

Are you missing the LOYL in your life right now? Do you find yourself seeking body warmth in the comfort of blankets and duvets? If you answer yes to any of these questions, you have our sympathy. But who does sympathy help? Try any of the food on this list and you’ll thank us.

Tea

Source: Ibiene Magazine

Forget sex. Who wants to start worrying about pregnancy scares or STIs anyway? If you’re feeling cold, set a kettle on the stove and treat yourself to a hot cup of tea. The cold will be found dead in a ditch.

Pepper Soup

Source: Sisi Jemimah

If you’ve been sleeping on pepper soup since the rainy season started, you’re wrong. Make sure you season it thoroughly with Cameroon or habanero, the heat will come from within. Cold where?

Akamu

Source: 9jafoodie

Cereal during the cold season as a single-pringle? You clearly don’t like yourself. You better stock up on pap. You even have varieties—white, yellow, brown, ginger-infused. Every hot spoonful will remind you that you’re enough.

Boiled yam

Source: Instagram (@kikifoodies)

Maybe not exactly how you imagined being choked during the rainy season, but hot yam will do the job. You might gasp for air while you try to force it down, but it’s something right?

Noodles

Source: Taste

A meal for all seasons for real! Just make sure you make it soup-style: with extra broth. By the time you’re done, your runny nose will perish all thoughts of your singular status.

Abula

Source: MyActiveKitchen

Do you know our hands get extra chilly during the cold season? Here’s where abula comes in. You’ll be sticking your fingers in something hot and moist. It’s the perfect remedy for those icy fingers.

Peppered snail

Source: DreamAfrica

There’s a standing Yoruba joke about snails and what they mean, but all we know is that snail is best enjoyed when it’s spicy. So, it should be on your list of meals to keep you warm on long days and cold nights.

Take the survey here.

Adeyinka Odutuyo

June 17, 2023

Chopist

Nigeria, nigerian recipes, Nigerians, rainy season
These Local Candies Need to Make a Comeback

Kids these days only know Skittles and Maltesers but if you’re a 90s kid or older, you’ll know that we had better OGs.

These local candies were cheaper, easily accessible and definitely a treat for the taste buds.

Source: Instagram (@bera_foods)

Baba Dudu (Black toffee)

Source: ErinFood

Might not have been considered cool to bring it out during your lunch breaks, but Baba Dudu was that guy. What other candy could you afford with N5? It’s made from coconut milk and cream. These days, the quality has significantly reduced even though it’s still cheap as fuck.

Sisi Pelebe (Groundut candy)

Source: Ounje Aladun

As a 90s kid, this is one candy you’ll be familiar with if you had uncles and aunties that made trips to Coutonu. Unlike Baba Dudu, it’s flat and is a brighter shade of brown. Sisi pele is made from groundnut, sugar and salt.

Ridi (Sesame seed candy)

Source: Northpad Kitchen

This candy is the star kid in the north and only found its way to other regions on rare occasions. It’s basically sesame seeds coated in sugar syrup.

Ekana Gowon (Gowon’s finger)

Source: Dobby’s signature

Another personal favourite, Ekana Gowon is probably the cheapest local candy on this list. I remember buying it for as low as two sticks for N5. It’s made from sugar, lime and water. The unique cone shape sets it apart from the other local candies.

Alewa

Source: Nairaland

Alewa was the queen that brought the boys to the yard. It was the quickest way to get your playmates’ the attention and have them begging for some. It’s made from water, sugar and food colouring. It also had a reputation for changing the colour of the tongue—a real charmer for kids.

Coconut candy

Source: Kitchen Butterly

This candy deserves some real respect because it’s the only one fully thriving to this day. You’ll even find it at owambes, either as a souvenir or dessert option. It’s made from coconut, sugar and water.

Catch the crazy dating stories of our 40+ anonymous writer, once a month from Sunday, June 11, 2023.

Adeyinka Odutuyo

June 10, 2023

Chopist

candy, Foodie, nigerian recipes, Nigerians
The Quickest Dinners For Busy and Exhausted Adults

Between work, traffic and Nigeria just Nigeria-ing, everybody is tired. They’re also hungry but would like to eat without having to cook for 45 minutes to an hour when they return from work. What’s that thing Fireboy said again? “There’s no time. There’s no energy.” Exactly. And that’s why I’ve listed seven quick recipes you can cook for dinner in under 20 minutes. With these recipes, you don’t have to do too much or get too many ingredients.

Concoction rice

Photo credit: Bella Naija

This is the traditional “There’s nothing to eat” meal Nigerians cook when there are very few ingredients in the house. Most people cook this by throwing whatever they find in the pot. But if you need a recipe to follow, I’m here for you.

Find recipe at The Kitchen Muse

ALSO READ: 5 Types of Rice Nigerians Need to Respect More

Suya sandwich

Image source: Joy Editor

Before you slander this combination, note it’s basically a beef sandwich but beef suya instead. To make it better, use agege bread. ₦500 suya plus ₦150 agege bread, and you’re good to go. Spread some butter or mayo inside (you won’t regret it). For extra oomph, add a sunny-side-up egg.

Find the recipe at Joy Etor

Indomie frittata

Photo credit: Delta Pikin

Try this if you’re tired of eating your Indomie and egg the same way every time. Mix everything together and fry at once(after cooking your Indomie, of course). It slaps, I promise.

Find the recipe at Delta Pikin

Egg Spaghetti

Photo credit: Learn to cook with me

The fastes go-to for spaghetti is usually to pair it with stew. But I need us to move forward in life. The recipe below can get addictive just by how quick and easy it is to cook. I introduced it to my friend, a Nigerian bachelor who hates cooking, and he made it every day for one week straight. Don’t be as extreme as him though.

Find the recipe at Learn to Cook With Me

ALSO READ: Make Bougie Creamy Pasta With Less Than ₦10k

10-minute fried rice

Photo credit: The Foodie Takes Flight

A faster and cheaper way to cook fried rice. The link below offers two recipes: one with few ingredients, while the other has some extras like soy sauce and mixed vegetables. Choose which one to make depending on your time, money and energy.

Find recipe at The Foodie Takes Flight

Boiled potatoes in tomato sauce

Photo credit: Nic Homecooking

Potato and stew, but make it fancy. I want to send dollars to the person who came up with this recipe.

Find it at Nic Homecooking

Yam and egg stir fry

Photo credit: Ndudu by Fafa

A twist on fried yam and eggs. All I’ll say is once you try this, you may never go back to eating just fried yam and fried eggs.

Find the recipe on Ndudu by Fafa

ALSO READ: 9 Low-Budget Recipes You Can Make With Ingredients in Your House

Dammy Eneli

September 21, 2022

Chopist

Food, nigerian recipes, Quick recipes
8 Nigeria Breakfast Ideas To Try While On Lock Down

One of the things you realize when you start living on your own is that figuring out what to eat is as much a chore as actually making it. But we’re here with a simple list to make it easier for you during this lock down. Here are 8 simple Nigerian breakfast ideas to try while you self isolate.

1. Good old bread and tea.

Easy to make, no more than 5 minutes spent in the kitchen while at it.

2. Because bread goes with anything, bread and egg.

With tea on the side of course.

3. Okay so there’s no bread in the supermarket close to you, don’t panic yet, try pancakes.

Especially if you are self isolating with your partner and want to give them a breakfast in bed treat.

4. Plantain and egg.

It looks complicated but it’s not. The hot oil does half the job for you. Of course you have to be attentive to be sure it doesn’t become an overkill.

5. Garri for the culture.

Another effortless very Nigerian breakfast choice.

6. If you’re a man or woman of culture, eat your swallow in the morning.

Sure it would knock you out but who cares.

7. Pap.

And because we are not trying to start another custard VS pap debate, we will simply put custard as the next item on the list.

8. Custard.

And here’s pretty custard on the list. But seriously, how is there even a debate between these two? One is clearly outside the other’s league. No, don’t answer that. We are not trying to start a debate remember?

While you are here we have a list of 4 Nigerian shows on Netflix you can binge on during this lock down.

What’s up, Zikoko Fam? It would mean the world to us if you spared a few minutes to fill this Reader Survey. It’s so we can bring you the content you really want!

Blessing Onyelobi

April 8, 2020

Chopist

nigerian breakfasts, Nigerian Food, nigerian recipes