sweet corn 🌽Corn is a seasonal staple cereal food grown in Nigeria like in other parts of the world. People look forward to plant, harvest, and victual it. Animals as well, as there was a viral video of a dog munching a yummy corn. You can click this link to read about the benefits of corn to a dog. In this current season I have traveled from the northern part of the country to the Eastern part traversing some Western and Southern states. The atmosphere with regards to corn is same as it is seen in its consumption-ready forms being sold by the roadside and persons of various calibre buying this yummy.
corn roasted by the roadside
O my Dog, yummy corn! 😋Coincidentally, corn must have attracted some more attention as one of the presidential candidates in Nigeria's election in 2023 has promised to recruit 50 million youths into the army to fight terrorism. In his words, they'll be fed with Agbado (corn) and other starchy foods - sadly funny! With this, the youthful army will not only combat terrorism but also PEM (malnutrition). I forbid that (with my vote)!🤦 I really hope my nation Nigeria find a rescue.
More interesting to me are the diverse forms this cereal can be enjoyable consumed. This fascination has made me jot this down. These forms are outlined below:
boiled cornBoiled corn on the cob - The corn is boiled. It is eaten either alone; or with coconut or Bush pear (Dacryodes edulis).
roasted cornRoasted corn - The corn cob is roasted with heat from firewood coal. Also eaten alone or combined with coconut or Bush pear. In Igbo, to roast corn is known as Ida oka.
moi-moi okaCorn moi-moi (moi-moi oka) - It is a boiled maize pudding from the cob, grinded and then mixed with other ingredients like onion, pepper, tomato, crayfish and others as the cook prefers. It is poured into containers and boiled. it can be eaten with enriched pap. Pap is made from corn as well.
corn kernelFried Corn kernel - The grains are removed from the cob. They are fried in a heated frying pan. it is usually unpopped. Can be eaten with palm nut kernel. The older men like this diet.
pap and milkOgi/Akamu - It is fermented cereal pudding. With boiled water, it is made into a pap. Pap can be enriched with various elements like milk, soya-bean, sugar, cocoa products etc.
agidiAgidi - It is cooked fermented cereal pudding. It is eaten alone or with stew. The fermented cereal can even be spiced before being cooked - Agidi jollof.
Popcorn - A variety of corn kernel which expands and puffs up when heated. It can be cooked with butter or oil; spiced with sugar, milk, cocoa products and others as preferred. It is usually eaten with groundnut.
golden mornSome other forms although more modern, known in my locality include cornflakes, golden morn etc. usually called cereals and commonly used for breakfast.
The above are the yummy forms of this staple cereal I have observed and eaten in my locality. Today is for the yumminess - the nutritional value is great as well but it's not the focus for today. I anticipate there are other forms in your locality. I would love to hear about them in the comment feed.
You can try any of these if you are yet to taste this yummies. While writing this, I also found out other forms and I am excited to try some out. Should in case you visit Nigeria, your taste bud will not be disappointed by these corn delicacies. Just ask for corn called Agbado in Yoruba, masara in hausa and oka in Igbo.
This is my resumption post in hive after a break. it is about food - I guess I'm officially a foodie.😅Thanks for reading. I would love to read your opinions and experience on this food. Cheers and have a great week.
Happy Eating 😋