Efo riro is one local dish native to the Southwestern part of Nigeria. It is basically a vegetable soup. Efo riro literally means ‘stirred vegetables’ in Yoruba. Varieties of vegetables could be used to prepare this delicacy. Water leaf, Amaranth leaf (arowo jeja), jute leaf (tete) are the best for this delicacy. This soup is served in homes, restaurants and occasions especially Yoruba traditional wedding. This soup is very easy and takes less than an hour to prepare.
INGREDIENTS
The ingredient for this delicacy includes; Amaranth leaf, pepper, palm oil, stock cubes, dry fish, beef, onion, salt, locust bean (iru) and crayfish.
BEFORE COOKING
There are few things to be done before cooking your favorite vegetable soup. The first thing to do is to prepare the leaves by plucking it from its stalk. It is then parboiled in hot water. The leaves are to be cut into smaller pieces and then allow its water to drain through a sieve. The pepper should also be grinded. Wash the dry fish and also parboil the beef with seasoning, onions and salt.
COOKING DIRECTION
Heat the palm oil in a pot for about a minute. Add the ground pepper, locust bean, crayfish, stock cube, and salt to taste. Let it cook for some minutes and then add the boiled meat and dry fish to the stew formed. Then add the amaranth leaves (or any other vegetable of your choice) and stir with the stew. Stir continuously till the stew mix with the vegetable entirely. It should be allowed to simmer for about 3-5 minutes after which your efo riro is done.
It is best served with pounded yam. It can also be served with fufu, eba, amala, wheat, semo and rice. The taste of this soup is so yummy that you can’t stop tasting after the first attempt. Stay healthy and enjoy as you try this dish. Bon appetite!
