This weekend, relish your vegetable with Ishin (Ackee fruit)

THE human race is blessed by God with fruits that could be eaten fresh or cooked, such is the Ackee fruit popularly called Ishin in Yoruba.

While growing up, I enjoyed various vegetables cooked with Ishin from my mother’s pot of soup. The Ackee trees grow around us but most people do not recognise it while others do not attach importance to it but fact is that much as it tastes sweet as a fruit, it equally tastes sweeter when added to vegetables. Interestingly, Ishin is sold in the market.  Its preparation with vegetables is slightly different from the usual way but very easy.

Ingredients:

Choice vegetables

Onions

Locust beans

Palm oil

Pepper

Beef

Smoked fish

Ginger and garlic

Seasoning cubes

Salt

Ponmo

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Preparation

-Separate Ishin from the seeds, rinse thoroughly and put aside.

-Blend your pepper, tomatoes, onions, ginger and garlic

-Wash ponmo and fish. Remove the bone in the fish

-Wash your vegetable to remove sand and cut into small sizes

After getting the ingredients ready, set a pot on fire.

Step 1- Pour little palm oil into the pot and add some chopped onions and let it sizzle.

Step 2- Add chopped tomato and pepper, stir fry for some minutes

Step 3- Add the blended pepper and locust beans, salt and seasoning, then cover the pot for some minutes.

Step 4- At this point, add little water, Ishin, fish, ponmo and cover again for about five to seven minutes.

Step 5-  Add vegetables and stir. Leave it to cook for few more minutes and remove from cooker.

Enjoy your vegetable with pounded yam, eba, amala or rice.