Efo Riro : A Delicious and Nutritious Soup Recipe

Efo Riro is a popular Nigerian dish, a rich and flavorful spinach stew cooked with assorted meats and/or fish.

Ingredients:

• 500g spinach leaves (substitute with kale or collard greens if spinach is not available)
• 250g assorted meats (e.g., beef, chicken, or goat meat), cut into bite-sized pieces
• 200g smoked fish or dried fish, deboned and flaked
• 1 medium-sized onion, finely chopped
• 3-4 medium-sized tomatoes, chopped
• 2-3 red bell peppers, chopped
• 2-3 scotch bonnet peppers (habanero peppers), chopped (adjust to your preferred level of spiciness)
• 2 tablespoons ground crayfish (substitute with shrimp paste if unavailable)
• 2-3 tablespoons palm oil
• 2-3 tablespoons groundnut oil (or any cooking oil of your choice)
• 2-3 stock cubes or bouillon cubes
• Salt to taste
• Optional: 1 cup of cooked and peeled shrimp
• Optional: 2 boiled eggs, peeled and halved

Instructions:

1. Wash the spinach leaves thoroughly in cold water to remove any dirt or sand. Blanch the leaves by plunging them into boiling water for about 2 minutes, then transfer them to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Squeeze out excess water and chop the spinach finely. Set aside.
2. In a large pot, heat the palm oil and groundnut oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and sauté until they become translucent.
3. Add the chopped tomatoes, red bell peppers, and scotch bonnet peppers to the pot. Stir and let them cook until the mixture becomes thick and the oil begins to separate.
4. Now, add the assorted meats and smoked fish to the pot. Stir well to combine with the pepper mixture. If you’re using cooked shrimp, add them at this stage as well.
5. Crumble the stock cubes or bouillon cubes over the mixture and add the ground crayfish. Stir everything together and let it cook for about 5-10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
6. Add the chopped spinach to the pot and mix it well with the rest of the ingredients. Cover the pot and let the stew simmer for an additional 5-10 minutes or until the spinach is tender and cooked.
7. Taste the stew and adjust the seasoning with salt and extra spices if necessary.
8. If using boiled eggs, gently add them to the pot and let them warm through for a few minutes.
9. Serve your delicious Efo Riro with your choice of staple foods such as rice, pounded yam, fufu.

Enjoy your meal!
You can try our other recipes too for a yummy taste bud, Have a good day or evening