Isi Ewu Ceremony Dish

Ingredients

• 2 large, premium whole goat heads from a well-fed goat
• 2 big tablespoons of ground uziza seeds
• 1 tablespoon of ground ehuru
• 2 big onions, sliced
• 4 seasoning cubes (Knorr)
• Salt to taste FOR THE CEREMONIAL SAUCE:
• 4 cooking spoons of the finest available red palm oil
• 1 big piece of potash (akanwu), dissolved and strained
• 2 big tablespoons of ground uziza seeds
• 1 tablespoon of ground ehuru
• 4 big handfuls of ground dried crayfish
• 3 Atarodo, blended
• 3 seasoning cubes, crushed
• Salt to taste
• 3 big handfuls of fresh utazi leaves, very finely sliced — the generous ceremonial garnish

Method

1. 01

   Preparing the Premium Goat Heads. Clean both goat heads absolutely thoroughly. Singe off all remaining hair. Scrub every surface with lemon juice, salt and potash solution. Rinse repeatedly. Split each head in half. Clean the inside of the mouth completely. This extraordinary care in cleaning is part of the ceremonial preparation — the dish must be beyond reproach.

2. 02

   Very Long Pressure Cooking. Place the goat head halves in a large pressure cooker with sliced onion, ground uziza, ehuru, seasoning cubes and salt. Pressure cook for 1.5 hours — longer than everyday Isi Ewu — until every part of the head is completely yielding and gelatinous. Every part must be perfectly tender.

3. 03

   Separating the Ceremonial Meat. Carefully separate all meat from the bone in large, dignified pieces. The cheek meat, tongue, brain, ear — every part is honoured and included. Cut the tongue into thick slices. Reserve the deeply gelatinous cooking broth.

4. 04

   Making the Vivid Yellow Ceremonial Sauce. In a large ceremonial mortar, combine the finest palm oil with the potash solution. Stir until the most vivid yellow possible is achieved. Add all remaining sauce ingredients. Mix thoroughly.

5. 05

   Combining with Care and Dignity. Add all the goat head meat to the yellow sauce. Toss with respect and deliberateness — this is ceremonial food. Add a little of the gelatinous broth if needed.

6. 06

   Ceremonial Presentation. Transfer to the largest, most beautiful wooden mortars available. Crown with an extraordinary, generous mound of finely sliced utazi leaves. The presentation should be magnificent — this is food prepared for the highest occasion.

More festive & ceremonial dishes

• Jollof Party Rice120 min
• Pepper Soup60 min
• Ofe Onugbu120 min
• Tuwo Shinkafa120 min
• Kilishi Feast Platter45 min
• Nkwobi Festive Platter120 min