Ekuru: A typical Yoruba meal

This meal is a typical south-west Nigeria diet which is high in protein and vitamins, writes OLOLADE ALABI.

Ekuru which is also known as ofuloju or can also be called white moi moi. It is predominately eaten by the Yoruba in Nigeria. It is a meal which is similar to moin moin and it is also prepared with peeled beans.

This meal is one of the numerous ways of enjoying beans. Ekuru has a sour taste and is usually served with obe ata dindin or mashed with eko. This meal is common among the people of Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ogun and Kwara states.

You can wrap your Ekuru up in leaves, tin cans or nylon depending on preference.

The ata dindin is an accompanying sauce that is really spicy and you can also regulate it to your spice level.

INGREDIENTS
-225g/80z beans

-1 fresh pepper

-1 onion

-2 tomatoes

-3 tablespoon palm oil

-Warm water to mix pinch of kaun [potash]

-Prawns and assorted meat

-Sawa leaves for wrapping, nylon and tin cans. Depending on your preference.

EKURU
-Prepare the beans by peeling the beans, grind the beans exactly like moin-moin but the difference is that the beans won’t add pepper or onions when grinding.

-Pour into a clean bowl, add the Kaun and salt and mix well adding warm water gradually until it is well aerated and light.

-Place mixture on clean leaves and then wrap it.

– Don’t add salt to it.

-Arrange carefully in pot of boiling water with a false base as for that of moin-moin, cover with a tight fitting lid and cook for 3-45minutes

-It would be firm to the touch when cooked.

THEN PROCEED
-Prepare the ata sauce with palm oil, tomatoes, onion and peppers.

Note that you should not over bleach the palm oil of the ata dindin

-Add the prawns and the assorted meat

-Serve and mash the cooked ekuru in a bowl and add the ata sauce.

-Mix thoroughly and serve with cold eko. Enjoy your meal.