Ewa Aganyin

Ewa Aganyin Recipe

Name: Ewa Aganyin

Origin: Yoruba, Nigeria

Ingredients:

• Brown or honey beans (Oloyin beans)
• Water
• Salt
• Palm oil (a generous amount)
• Dried bell peppers (Tatashe)
• Dried chili peppers (Shombo or Cameroon pepper)
• Onions (sliced for frying
• blended for paste)
• Crayfish (dried
• ground)
• Seasoning cubes
• Salt to taste
• Optional: Smoked fish
• minced ginger
• garlic

Steps:

1. Prepare the Beans: Wash and boil the beans with water and some onion until extremely soft; mash them almost smooth with a wooden spoon or hand mixer
2. Soak Peppers: Soak dried peppers in hot water until soft, then drain
3. Blend Paste: Blend the softened peppers, some onion, and a little water (and ginger/garlic if using) into a smooth puree
4. Fry Onions: Heat a generous amount of palm oil in a dry pot until very hot, then add sliced onions and fry until they start to caramelize and turn brown (or even black for a smoky flavor)
5. Cook the Sauce: Reduce heat, add the blended pepper paste, crayfish, seasoning, and optional fish to the fried onions
6. Stir often and fry on low heat for 30-40 minutes until the sauce darkens and thickens, absorbing the oil
7. Combine & Serve: Spoon the dark sauce over the mashed beans and serve hot with bread, yam, or plantain