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bowl of nigerian vegetable stew

Authentic Efo Riro Recipe

Efo Riro is one of the popular dishes in Nigeria. It is freshly chopped spinach cooked in a rich palm oil stew garnished with various proteins such as beef, tripe, shrimp etc.
5 from 3 votes
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 39 minutes
Servings 3

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs smoked turkey cut-up
  • 2 lbs beef tripe cooked
  • 1.5 lbs chopped spinach rinsed and drained
  • 4 red bell peppers
  • 2-3 scotch bonnets
  • 1 small onion
  • 2 tbsp locust beans optional
  • 1 large dried catfish deboned and rinsed
  • 1/4 cup Palm oil
  • 2 tbsp ground crayfish
  • 3 bouillon cubes
  • Salt to taste

Instructions
 

  • Use a blender or food processor to roughly blend the red bell peppers, scotch bonnets and onion.
  • In a large pot or deep pan, heat up the palm oil.
  • Toss in your locust beans and let it fry for 2 minutes making sure to stir so it doesn't burn.
  • Go in with the pepper mix, let it fry for 10 minutes on medium heat.
  • Add in the smoked turkey and let it cook in the pepper sauce for 12 minutes.
  • Season the sauce with bouillon cubes and salt before adding in the dried deboned catfish and cooked tripe. Cover and let this continue to cook for another 10 minutes.
  • Add in the spinach, and combine until it is completely immersed in the pepper sauce, cover and leave to cook for 5-7 minutes.
  • Taste and adjust seasoning if needed before turning off the heat.
  • Enjoy this on its own, with swallow or with a bowl of white rice.

Notes

Tips
  1. It is important that you refrain from overcooking the spinach, 5-10 minutes of cooking time is enough, this is so your spinach does not lose its nutrients and colour.
  2. If you decide to stick to smoked turkey, add it into the sauce early enough so it releases most of its saltiness into the pepper sauce before you add salt. Thank me later!