How to pepare Ayamase stew (ofada stew)

Ayamase stew, also referred to as Ofada stew, is a well-liked and flavorful Nigerian dish that’s beloved for its wealthy style and spicy kick.

What’s Ayamase?

Ayamase stew, also referred to as Ofada stew or Nigerian designer stew, is among the many varieties of stews loved in Nigeria. Additionally it is recognized by different names resembling Aya Mase, obe-iresi, designer stew, and obe dudu.

It’s made with inexperienced bell peppers, onions, and a wide range of meats, usually together with offal or beef and it’s spiced utilizing indigenous substances such because the locust bean and this offers it a definite scrumptious style.

Ayamase Stew has its roots within the southwestern area of Nigeria, notably among the many Yoruba folks. It’s mentioned to have began from a girl known as Mrs. Felicia Adesina – ”Aya Mase” which means ”spouse of Mase’.”

This stew is historically served with Ofada rice, a regionally grown short-grain, unpolished rice in Nigeria that has a singular taste and aroma. Whereas Ofada rice is conventional, you too can take pleasure in Ayamase with white rice, boiled yam, and fried or boiled plantains.

When you’ve by no means tried Ayamase earlier than, it’s a good way to expertise Nigerian meals, particularly in case you take pleasure in daring, spicy flavors.

Ayamase with a twist

I do know that the standard manner of cooking Ayamase requires that you simply bleach the palm oil. I don’t just like the smoke and discomfort that comes with bleaching palm oil.

Additionally, from my years of cooking and studying, I’ve found that the chemical elements of the oil break down in the course of the bleaching course of, thereby stripping the oil of its dietary worth and making it much less wholesome.

This distinctive type of constructing ayamase nonetheless makes use of the identical recipe as the standard type. Nevertheless, it’s a safer and more healthy cooking type, and it comes out simply as scrumptious.

Let’s speak about Ofada Rice Briefly.

Ofada rice is a conventional Nigerian rice selection named after the city of Ofada in Ogun State, the place it was first cultivated. It’s unpolished. This implies it retains its bran layer, full of vitamins. This provides the rice a barely brown colour. Due to its bran, it’s dietary in comparison with polished white rice.

Ofada rice has brief grains with a chewy texture that contrasts with the fluffiness of long-grain rice, like Basmati or Jasmine. It additionally has a nutty, earthy taste. This style is kind of completely different from the delicate taste of standard white rice.

Ayamase with a singular twist

I do know that the standard manner of cooking Ayamase requires that you simply bleach the palm oil. This type is completely different, protected and comes out with a scrumptious stew greater than you’ll be able to think about. This distinctive type of constructing ayamase nonetheless makes use of the identical recipe as the standard type however with a safer and more healthy cooking type.

Like every deep frying course of, bleaching palm oil may be harmful. I don’t just like the smoke and discomfort that comes with bleaching palm oil. Additionally, from my years of cooking and studying, I’ve found that the chemical elements of the oil will break down in the course of the bleaching course of, thereby stripping the oil of its dietary worth and making it much less wholesome. 

Serving Ayamase Stew

Ayamase Stew is greatest loved with Ofada rice, however it can additionally be served with plain white rice or boiled plantains. 

When you love wealthy, flavorful dishes like Ayamase, you may additionally take pleasure in making an attempt different Nigerian stews like Nigerian beef stew (a tomato-based stew) or Egusi Soup, each of which provide equally daring and scrumptious flavors.

When you’re concerned about exploring extra Nigerian dishes, be sure you try recipes like Nigerian Moi Moi or Peppered Fish for extra vibrant, flavorful meals.

Key Substances for making Ayamase Sauce

• Assorted Meats: completely different meats like beef or tripe cooked and simmered within the sauce.
• Inexperienced bell peppers: These give the sauce its signature inexperienced colour. They’ve a light, barely candy taste that balances the warmth of the habanero.
• Onion: blended with the pepper to thicken and provides the sauce a wealthy texture.
• Habanero Rodo: Add warmth to the sauce.
• Locust Bean: add a barely earthy, umami taste to ayamase.
• Beef Inventory: infuses the sauce with beef taste, making it much more satisfying with a well-rounded style.
• Floor crayfish: that is elective, however it enhances the style of the sauce.
• Palm Oil: provides a smoky taste to the dish.
• Boiled Eggs: the egg is the most important protein in Ayamase. The hard-boiled eggs are peeled and simmered within the sauce to soak up earthy flavors.
• Salt: to style

Learn how to make Ofada Stew from scratch 

• Rinse and roast the pepper and onion: Spray the peppers and onion with oil and roast them within the air fryer at 400°F for 15 – 20 minutes till they’ve black spots. You may as well roast within the oven at 425°F for 20 – 25 minutes.
• Mix the peppers: Depart to chill barely and mix within the meals processor to a tough consistency. 
• Warmth the Palm Oil: In a clear pot, add the palm oil and let it soften on medium warmth with out bleaching it.
• Add onions and locust beans: As soon as the oil is melted however not bleached, add the diced onions, locust beans and floor crayfish. Stir and depart to cook dinner over low warmth for about 5 minutes. This manner your oil won’t be smoky.
• Add the blended Pepper Combine: Pour within the blended pepper, stir all of it collectively, cowl it up, and permit it to cook dinner for 3 minutes over medium warmth.
• Add Beef Inventory and season: Pour within the beef inventory, season with salt and extra floor crayfish. 
• Add the protein: stir within the cooked beef, stripe, ponmo and boiled egg. Stir all the pieces collectively and let it simmer on low warmth until your required consistency. The low warmth permits the meat and egg to soak up the wealthy flavors of the sauce.
• Serve: Ayamase stew may be served with Ofada Rice or boiled or fried plantains, Yam, and so on. Take pleasure in!

Ceaselessly Requested Questions

• What makes Ayamase sauce inexperienced? The inexperienced colour comes from inexperienced bell peppers and inexperienced habanero peppers, which we mix collectively to make the sauce.
• Is Ayamase sauce spicy? Sure, everybody is aware of Ayamase sauce for its spicy kick due to the habanero peppers utilized in its preparation. Nevertheless, you’ll be able to regulate the extent of spiciness by lowering or rising the quantity of peppers.
• What meats can I exploit in Ayamase sauce? You should utilize completely different meat in your Ayamase sauce. I used beef and tripe on this recipe. Be at liberty so as to add goat, rooster, tripe, and offal. Pre-cook the meat earlier than including it to the sauce.
• Are locust beans (Iru) mandatory in Ayamase sauce? Locust beans, or iru, add an earthy taste to the sauce, enhancing the general depth of the dish. It’s elective; the sauce will nonetheless style nice with out locust beans.
• Can I make Ayamase sauce with out palm oil? Palm oil is a key ingredient in Ayamase sauce. It offers a singular taste and colour. Nevertheless, in case you want a substitute, you should use vegetable oil, however the taste will likely be completely different.
• Learn how to retailer Ayamase sauce When you’ve got leftovers, you’ll be able to retailer the Ayamase sauce in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as per week or freeze it for longer storage.

Under is the step-by-step video Recipe on methods to make Ayamase (Ofada Stew)

• 4 inexperienced bell peppers sliced into 2 halves
• 1 massive onion reduce into quarters
• 2 inexperienced chilies
• 2 habanero rodo or scotch bonnet
• ½ cup palm oil
• 1 medium onion diced
• 2 tbsps locust beans
• 2 tbsps crayfish divided
• beef inventory as wanted
• 1½ lb beef and tripe or any mixture of protein of selection
• 4-6 boiled eggs
• salt to style

• Put the inexperienced bell pepper, onion, inexperienced chilies, and scotch bonnet within the air fryer basket. Spray them with oil. Air fry at 400°F for 15 to twenty minutes. Alternatively, you’ll be able to place them in a preheated oven at 425°F for 20 to 25 minutes.

• Depart to chill barely then add to a meals processor and mix to a tough consistency.

• Add the palm oil right into a sauce pan over medium warmth. As soon as the palm oil is melted, add the diced onions and cook dinner till the onions, locust bean, and floor crayfish.

• Combine nicely and depart to cook dinner over low warmth for about 5 minutes.

• Add the roughly blended peppers and depart to cook dinner over medium warmth for about 3 minutes.

• Add the meat inventory and season with salt and extra floor crayfish

• Stir within the beef and onerous boiled eggs and depart to cook dinner till thickened to your required consistency.

Energy: 646.8kcal | Carbohydrates: 10.5g | Protein: 30.8g | Fats: 53.4g | Saturated Fats: 22.5g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 3.4g | Monounsaturated Fats: 21.6g | Trans Fats: 1.7g | Ldl cholesterol: 253.9mg | Sodium: 211.4mg | Potassium: 675.6mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5.4g | Vitamin A: 602.2IU | Vitamin C: 87.7mg | Calcium: 67.7mg | Iron: 3.6mg

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Basic Ayamase Recipe

If you’re a fan of the basic recipe right here it’s for you. It’s the identical substances however completely different steps.

• Rinse the bell peppers, onions, and habanero and reduce them into chunks – this can make the mixing course of simpler for the blender.
• Mix the peppers and onions in small batches. Add just a bit water whereas mixing, as you don’t want a lot.
• Pour the blended pepper right into a pot and boil it till many of the water is gone.
• In a clear pot, add the palm oil. Cowl the pot and warmth it on low to medium. Wait till the oil turns a honey-brown colour.
• At this level, don’t open the pot lid as a result of heavy smoke. As an alternative, flip off the range. You may as well take the pot exterior to chill it down sooner.
• As soon as the oil cools down, return it to the range. Warmth it up somewhat, however don’t let it smoke. Depart it uncovered this time.
• Add the diced onions and locust bean. Fry them till the onions begin to float within the oil.
• Add the boiled pepper and stir all the pieces collectively. Cowl it and let it cook dinner till the oil floats on high of the pepper sauce.
• Add your selection of meat, and a few beef inventory to loosen up the sauce if it’s too thick. Add salt to style.