HOW TO PREPARE NKWOBI A NIGERIAN MEAL(with health benefits)

     HOW TO PREPARE NIGERIAN NKWOBI

Nkwobi is a traditional delicacy. It is a popular Nigerian meal served mostly at restaurants and at special social events, and usually enjoyed by all. It is prepared with cooked de-hoofed cow foot(often called ''cow leg'') mixed in palm oil mixed gravy and spices.

INGREDIENTS FOR PREPARING NKWOBI

** 1kg  cow foot (cut into bite-able pieces)
** 100ml Palm Oil
** 1 teaspoon ground  Calabash Nutmeg (Ehu /ehuru seeds)
** 1 teaspoon ground edible potash (Akanwu/Kaun)
** 2 tablespoons ground crayfish
** Ground Scotch bonnet/atarado peppers or ground dried pepper (to taste)
** 1 medium onion for cooking  the cow foot
** 2  stock cubes
** Salt to taste
For  garnishing the Nkwobi, you need :
** 1 medium onion bulb (cut into rings)
** 5 Utazi leaves (you can make use of spinach or washed bitter leaf as an alternative)

DIRECTIONS

** De-hoof the cow foot and cut the meat into bite size chunks, if you haven't done that already, and Wash thoroughly

** Place the meat into a pot, pour in a little water, just enough to cook the meat. Add chopped onions, stock cubes and any meat spice of choice,and leave to cook until done.

 ** While the meat is cooking, pound the potash into powder and add a little water in it to dissolve it. Stir continuously,strain it with a sieve, and set the potash liquid aside  for later use.
If you'll rather make use of the meat stock, then mix the powdered potash with a little of the stock left after cooking the meat.

** Pour the red palm oil into a clean pot , and add the potash liquid into the oil .Stir the mixture continuously until the  red palm oil begins to thicken and changes from red to yellow.

** Now add the  ground pepper, ground crayfish , ground ehuru and a little stock cube.Stir all this ingredients into the oil .

** Next, add the cooked cow foot into the palm oil mixture and mix thoroughly , until you get all the meat covered in the oil.

** Place the pot on heat and simmer . Stir continously to prevent burning and put of the heat , when the meat is well  heated. You'll notice the palm oil gravy, bubbling in the pot.

** Now transfer  the meat into a plate or the small traditional wooden mortar... if you don't have the mortar,you can make use of brown ceramic bowls to get the traditional effect.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF NKWOBI

1.   It helps the formation of hemoglobin synthesis.

2.   It contains iron which helps in forming hemoglobin that transports oxygen to different parts of the body.

3.   It helps the circulation of blood in the mucous membrane.

4.   It contains cobalt a mineral salt supplement which aids the formation of hemoglobin synthesis.

5.   The fiber contents of the vegetables help in fighting certain diseases in the body.

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