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admin on Wednesday, July 13th 2011
Red-Red is a common dish from Ghana made from cowpeas (black-eyed peas). It is thought to have been named for the combination of red pepper and red palm oil that is employed in the cooking method. The Red-Red cowpeas stew is ordinarily served with fried plantains, and is a lunch favorite in Ghana, especially among office workers. If you are “unbeanz,” (i.e. unemployed) you can survive on this meal very easily for the reason that the ingredients are inexpensive. This is most ordinarily served with fried ripe plantain (popularly recognized as “koko”). It is an perfect selection for vegetarians and vegans.
Ingredients:
2-three cups dried cowpeas (black eyed peas) or comparable
One cup red palm oil (or vegetable oil)
One-2 onions, thinly sliced
2-three ripe tomatoes, quartered
cayenne pepper or red pepper
Salt and black pepper to taste
A number of ripe or near-ripe plantains
One-2 bouillon cubes
(Optional) Little piece of smoked or dried fish
(Optional) 1 spoonful of shrimp powder
Step #One
Clean the black-eyed peas in water in a big pot. Soak them in water for at least an hour or overnight. After soaking them, rub them together between your hands to remove the skins. Rinse to wash away the skins and any other debris. Drain them in a colander. If you are utilizing smoked or dried fish: remove the bones and skin, rinse and soak them in water, then dry them. If you are making use of dried shrimp: grind the shrimp (or acquire already ground or powdered shrimp).
Step #2
Location the black-eyed peas in a significant pot, fill the pot with sufficient water to just cover the peas. Bring to a slow boil; decrease the heat, cover, and simmer until the peas are tender; thirty minutes to an hour. When cooked, the peas must be moist, but not standing in water.
Step #three
Whilst the peas are cooking: Heat the oil in a skillet. Fry the onions until slightly browned, then add the tomatoes, and fish and dried shrimp (if desired). Mash and stir the mixture to form a sauce.
Step #4
Stir the onion-tomato mixture into the black-eyed peas. Add bouillon cubes (if you are not utilizing fish or shrimp). Simmer for ten minutes. Add salt, black pepper, and cayenne or red pepper to taste.
Step #5
Even though peas and sauce is simmering: Prepare fried plantains.
Step #6
Serve peas and plantains side by side on a plate.
How to Prepare fried plantains:
Step #One
Peel and thinly slice the plantains lengthwise.
Step #2
Fill a skillet with One inch of Canola or vegetable oil. Preheat the skillet until hot, but not smoking.
Step #three
Fry the plantains until they a nice golden brown color, and then flip to the other side. This really should take about 2 or three minutes in total, but let your eyes be the judge.
Step #4
Remove the plantains from the skillet and Location on paper towels to drain the excess oil, then season with salt and pepper. Makes about 6 to 8 servings.
How to Prepare Boiled Plantains:
Drop unpeeled plantains in boiling water. Cook for 15-20 minutes until a test plantain is tender when pierced with a fork. Peel just before serving.
Note: Due to the fact of the quantity of agricultural chemicals employed in fruit cultivation, we suggest a great soap and hot-water scrub prior to boiling plantains. If you prefer, you might peel them just before boiling.
A History of the Cowpea:
The cowpea is indigenous to Africa and contributes immensely to the diets of the under-privileged. It employed to be known as the “poor man’s meat”. Nonetheless, improvement in the storage and processing strategies of cowpeas has changed this perception. Cowpeas are now accepted, as food in the homes of the rich, the informed, the salaried worker and all those who can afford it. The cowpea is rich in protein and B-vitamins.
Wayne Kiltz is the founder and owner of Africa Imports. You can come across a lot more African recipes at http://africaimports.com/africanrecipes.asp
You can discover Several other articles on African art, culture, African fashions, and also African enterprise opportunities. Just go to http://www.africaimports.com