Abari: Steamed savoury corn pudding

By: Elizabeth Babawale

Abari, also known as Sapala is a traditional food mostly eaten by the Yoruba people in the South Western part of Nigeria. It is not restricted to the Yoruba alone, it is eaten by the Igbo who call it “Ukpu Oka”.

It is a savoury steamed pudding which is similar to moin moin but made of fresh corn. Some individuals prefer to add beans or sliced okra to derive taste or preference.

Ingredients

•Fresh corn on the cob(white or yellow)

•Scotch bonnet pepper (Rodo)

•Onion

•Palm oil

•Cray fish

•Seasoning

•Salt to taste

Preparation

•Cut fresh corn kernels off cob and rinse.

•Add pepper, onions and blend together into a smooth paste

•Add palm oil.

•Add cray fish (and other protein), seasoning and salt to taste.

•Stir together

•Scoop into traditional leaves, moin moin porch or celophane paper

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•Steam in pot of water for about 30 minutes

•Let it cool for 5 minutes

Your Abari is ready

Abari can be served with garri, rice, bread or any other dish apart from swallows.