Nigeria is a country with multiple ethnic groups. These groups have its unique culture. These unique cultures reflect in our everyday lives. From how we relate with others, religion, and even the food we eat. Unlike Tuwoshinkafa of the Hausa people, and Ogbono of the Igbo, Ikokore is a Yoruba delicacy. It’s a staple dish of the Ijebu people of Ogun state. Ikokore is prepared with water yam (isuewura). Unlike Punayam (our regular yam) water yam is hairy-like and looks glossy when cut. This savory dish is best enjoyed when it has many proteins (eg. Fish, meat, crayfish,etc) as possible incorporated into it.
I remembered the last time I prepared and ate this dish. it was on a friend’s birthday in May, 2018. I wanted to give him a surprise treat, so I thought on what to prepare. I wanted to prepare something special as well as uncommon and I keep pondering over what to do. On my way to his house, I saw water yam. And something flashed through my mind. Why not prepare Ikokore for him? But wait, will he love it? Has he eaten it before? What if he doesn’t appreciate it? Series of questions were just flashing through. And I said to myself, ‘just give a trial’, he might love it. I got all I neededfor it and headed straight to his house and prepared it. He was very happy and confessed the last time he ate it was about 20years ago.
Wow! 20 years. I brought back old memories of his grandma. We all ate and everyone was happy. This is why I have decided to share this delicacy as many of us have not heard of it, even those who know Ikokore may not have tasted it in a long time, or know how to prepare it.
So sit back and enjoy this tasteful creation of the Ijebu people, as Dolliescakes got dishes out nicest way to prepare Ikokore in this post.
INGREDIENTS
STEPS
- Peel the yam. Wash and grate with a manual grater.
- Unlike Puna yam, Water yam is drawy when grated. This is how you know it is good.
- Place water in a pot over medium heat. Add Ogiri and dissolve it in the water.
- Add cayenne pepper.
- Add salt and little palm oil. Cover and allow to boil.
- Now, pour some of the smoked fish and ponmo into the grated yam and wrap it into a ball.
- Drop into boiling water and repeat process for the remaining grated yam.
- Add the remaining smoked fish and ponmo and leave to cook for 15mins.
- Stir and add the remaining palm oil. Allow to simmer for some seconds and remove from heat.
- Serve and enjoy.
