As an igbo young lady that comes from a particular tribe in the southeast where melon balls is held at high esteem as their own local kolanut and a means to warmly welcome their visitors as well for the celebrations i need to learn how to make it right. Driving back to sixteen years ago when the cold hands of death of haven't taken my paternal grandma. She would always call me to come learn how to prepare some local dishes not until she kicked the bucket then my mom took over the teaching process. As a good student who believes in practicals i have always tried out what i have learned countless times by just cooking but not this recipe i will be bringing you today and i got it right. I want to try out different size and pattern.
Making baked melon balls
The ingredients to this recipe
- 200g of grinded melon
- 40g of onion (optional)
- 1 tablespoon of dry pepper
- 20g of grinded Osu (name in our local dialect)
Step one
Because our power holding company has refused giving us power for some time now, i had to grind my ingredients in the market. Then cut my onion at home.
Step two
The pictures above is the gradual process of how i mixed my ingredients in the mortar and pestle for pounding. First, the melon, the Osu, pepper and onion.
Step three
This step needs manpower as the melon must produce it's own oil in the process of pounding before any other step will have to take place.
Step four
This isn't the last stage but the one for another to start. At this you'll have to start molding to size and shape of your choice but before then a small quantity of water must be boiling on fire to steam it before taking it to the oven.
Step five
This step is to bring it out from the pot and take it into the already heated oven for 20 minutes. And it's ready.
It's ready and served hot or cold but can be taken with a palm wine or just that like that. The small in sizes are made use of in making soup.