Gbegiri, Ewedu, Amala, and Stew

A portion of Amala, wrapped in a transparent cellophane wrap and Egusi soup and Tomato stew. Amala can be served with various soups, two of the most popular among the Yoruba’s are ‘Gbegiri’ and 'Ewedu' soup. The ‘Gbegiri’ is prepared with brown beans, which is peeled and cooked until extremely soft. This can take about an hour or more. Add water intermittently, ensuring that it is always at the same level with the beans. This enables the right amount of water in the soup when the beans is done. Blend the soft beans, and filter with a sieve. Pour the beans into a pot and bring to boil, add smoked fish (if desired), salt, pepper, crayfish, stock cube and palm oil. Cover the pot and cook at low heat until the oil changes from red to yellow. The ‘Ewedu’ soup is prepared with ‘Ewedu’ leaves, hand picked and washed. A cooking pot is placed on a lit burner, water is added into the pot and heated to boiling point. The ‘Ewedu’ leaves are added with potash to make it tender. Then it is mashed with a cooking broom for about five minutes or less. Add ground crayfish, fermented locust beans ‘Iru’, maggi, salt and pepper to taste. Allow to simmer for 2 minutes or less.