Recipes from around the world: Beans Porridge

Not too hot, not too cold... just right.

A delicious Nigerian dish that with a little patience will deliver for your tastebuds. Most of the ingredients are simple but for the harder-to-find parts you can just substitute in some more common ingredients.

Ingredients

• A cup of Black eyed beans
• 4 balls of Fresh chilli pepper
• 2 teaspoons of grounded crayfish
• Half a cup of Palm oil
• Maggi crayfish or any seasoning of choice
• Onions
• A teaspoon of salt (or more)
• Dry catfish or any fish or protein of choice (not compulsory)
• Ugwu (also known as pumpkin leaves) OR  spinach as a substitute (not compulsory)
• Plantain (not compulsory)

Method

1. Pick, wash and cook the beans on high heat for up to 35 mins till they're almost tender.
2. Add the chopped plantain at this point and with a little more water. After 15 mins check if the beans are done. To check if it’s very tender, use a spoon to take a bean out and try using your hand to mash it on the spoon. If it mashes easily, then they're ready. Set them aside without removing the excess water (if you’re not using plantain, skip that part and just boil the beans until they are tender (approximately 45 mins)).
3. Grab a pan and heat it for a minute on low heat. Add your palm oil and allow to heat for 2 mins. (It can get pretty smokey so please be sure to open a window or use an extractor fan).
4. After that add your chopped onions. Stir well then add your grounded pepper and let it cook for 3 mins.
5. Then add your crayfish, seasoning and a pinch of salt. Stir everything together and then cover, cooking for 3 mins till the oil starts to float on top of the condiments cooking.
6. Keep stirring and add the protein of your choice.
7. Once that’s done, bring the beans back to the stove and transfer the contents to the pan. Cover to cook for 1 minute till it begins to boil. Open then stir till it’s well incorporated. Now add your pumpkin leaves or spinach.
8. Taste for salt, pepper and spice if it’s to your liking. If it is .. then good! If it’s not, add what you desire. Stir and let it cook for 30 seconds.
9. And that’s it...your beans porridge is ready to be served. It tastes amazing! ❤️

Courtesy of Jessica Hal!

Look out for more delicious dishes created by students on Sanctuary Social.