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Edikang Ikong with Cocoyam

Also known as Edikang Ikong with Cocoyam (Delta-Igbo Fusion)

This recipe represents a beautiful culinary fusion between the great Efik Edikang Ikong soup and the Igbo tradition of using pounded cocoyam as a natural thickener. By adding a small amount of pounded cocoyam to the standard Edikang Ikong, the soup gains a silky, smooth body that carries the extraordinary vegetable flavours even more effectively.

Edikang Ikong with Cocoyam, Nigerian cooking

Ingredients

  • 6 big handfuls of fresh ugwu (pumpkin leaf), sliced
  • 4 big handfuls of waterleaf, chopped
  • Half a medium goat or big handful of assorted beef
  • 2 big handfuls of stockfish, soaked
  • 2 big handfuls of smoked catfish, soaked and deboned
  • 1 big handful of periwinkles, cleaned
  • 3 cooking spoons of red palm oil
  • 4 medium cocoyams, boiled and pounded — the Igbo touch
  • 4 big handfuls of ground crayfish
  • 4 Atarodo (hot chilli peppers), blended
  • 1 big onion, sliced
  • 3 seasoning cubes (Knorr), crushed
  • Salt to taste

Method

  1. 01

    Cooking the Proteins. Season and cook meat for 35 to 40 minutes. Add stockfish for the last 15 minutes. Reserve stock.

  2. 02

    Preparing the Cocoyam Thickener. Boil the 4 cocoyams until very soft. Pound to a completely smooth paste. Set aside.

  3. 03

    Building the Soup. Heat palm oil in a large, wide pot. Add blended Atarodo and fry for 8 minutes. Add all cooked meat, stockfish, smoked catfish and periwinkles. Add reserved stock, ground crayfish, seasoning cubes and salt. Bring to a vigorous simmer.

  4. 04

    Adding the Cocoyam Thickener. Add the pounded cocoyam to the simmering soup in small pieces, stirring after each addition. Cook for 8 minutes until dissolved and the soup has a smooth, slightly thickened body.

  5. 05

    Adding the Vegetables. Add the squeezed waterleaf first. Stir through and cook 3 minutes. Add the sliced ugwu. Stir through vigorously. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes on medium heat. The soup should be thick with vegetables, silky from the cocoyam thickener and brilliantly flavoured. Taste and adjust all seasonings. Serve immediately.

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