Nigeria is so blessed with so many things including delicacies. These local dishes would make you bite your tongue because they are so tasty and delicious. All the taste bud would be at alert at the sight of Ewedu and Gbegiri. This delicacy is home to the people of Ibadan in Oyo State. You will hardly walk a five minutes distance before you see a restaurant. If this delicacy is not in the menu list, then you have been to a wrong place. Gbegiri is a bean soup while Ewedu, the complementary side of the delicacy is from a green jute leaf. The combination will go with any of these food; pounded yam, eba, fufu or amala.
Gbegiri is prepared by picking the black eyed beans. It is then soaked and washed with the hands to peel off the coat. The black-eyed pea is removed. The beans is then cooked until is very soft to touch. It is blended with a blender to become smooth. A wire mesh is then used to sieve the beans. At this point, you fry your grinded pepper in hot oil and then add your ingredients such as crayfish, seasoning and salt. Your smoked fish or cooked meat can also be added. The beans are then cooked until it becomes soft and the color changes from red to yellow. The beans should very smooth as a short stick would help mash until it is fine.
Ewedu is prepared by plucking the small green leaves out of its stalk. The fresh ewedu leaf is washed thoroughly. A pot is put on heat; water is added and brings to a rolling boil. The leaves should be allowed to simmer for 5-10 minutes or until the leaves are very tender. Ingredients such as locust beans, seasoning and a pinch of salt should be added for taste. It is then stirred and in another minute, it is ready to be served.
When Mixed Together, You Get A Superior Taste
The two made soups are mixed together to have a perfect taste. The bean soup has a yellow color while its leafy counterpart is green in color. The bean soup is thicker than the slimy jute soup so when they team up, they form a perfect mix. This combination would go perfectly with Amala (yam flour). It will pass through your gullet/esophagus in emphatic fashion. The perfect combination of this soup is rich in taste and nutrients as well as having some nutritional benefits. This local menu will surely be on your food list if given a trial.