In spite of the fact that most of the Ijebu foods are tuber-related such as Ikokore, Ojojo, Ebiripo etc, the process of cooking these tuber varieties with special sauces makes them nutritionally rich and appropriate for all occasions.
Ebiripo is a typical Ijebu cocoyam meal that can be cooked in various ways and spiced up to make a balanced diet. Cocoyam is purely carbohydrates and poor in other nutrients but many have now found ways to make the roots nutritious by adding soya beans while making Ebiripo.
According to a study by Sowonola O. A. Et al, from the Federal College of Agriculture, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Oyo State, “The combination of cocoyam and soyabeans in the processing of Ebiripo will bring about nutrient complement ability”.
They submitted in their findings that Ebiripo fortified with 40% soya flour was significantly 28% higher in protein and 8.4% higher in fat than the other Ebiripo samples.
Ingredients needed for a Nutritious Ebiripo
Cocoyam
Soya beans
Ground fresh Pepper
Water
Ground Crayfish.
Banana or Cocoyam leaves for wrapping.
An important lifestyle of any society is their food. The Ijebus, a tribe in Ogun State, South-West region of Nigeri and some part of Lagos state like Epe and Ikorodu are known for their peculiar delicacies which centre mainly on tubers such as cocoyam, cassava and water yam.
Method:
Peel and grate or ground the Cocoyam into paste, add soya beans flour and mix thoroughly.
Then add little water depending on the quantity or size of the paste to make it lighter, fluffy and easy to pack. Add salt to taste, pepper and ground crayfish and mix thoroughly.
Wash the leaves thoroughly to prevent dirts.
Scoop into a folded banana or Cocoyam leaf.
Arrange the Ebiripo inside a big pot and steam for about an hour.
Bring down to cool, and serve with Egusi soup or vegetable soup of your choice.
The fact that Soya bean is common, readily affordable and rich in protein, oil and essential nutrients changes the taste of Ebiripo when it is added to cocoyam and makes the meal more nutritious than just Cocoyam alone. The high protein content of soya bean is already proven to help in reducing the problem of malnutrition.
This is a part some people will not like to hear, but we will say it here for historical purposes. When the great Biafran leader, Col. Dim Emeka Odimegwu Ojukwu was granted a state pardon by President Shehu Shagari in 1982, the Ikemba soon contested for Senate under the then National Party of Nigeria (NPN), but did his people vote for him? Lest we also forget, he contested for the presidency, how many votes did he got even in Anambra? Let us bring in Chief Alex Ekweme. We recall, despite being founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),he contested for the party nomination for president in 2002. We all remember how the South-East governors then did all they could to outdo themselves to be seen to be more loyal to President Olusegun Obasanjo than even his own ministers. There was nothing wrong in all these for these people as long as it all guarantees fat bank accounts and unmerited rewards. No one talks about Biafra when contract figures are inflated; Biafra makes no sense ...
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