by Fatima Sani | Nov 28, 2021 | Local Delicacies
Miyan Alayyahu also known as Spinach Soup is a soup well consumed in northern Nigeria mostly by the Hausas. Yorubas that live in this part of the country also consume it. It is made with fresh spinach. It is quite easy to prepare and tastes delicious. This is one of my favourites of all northern Nigerian soups. Stay with me as I show you how to prepare Miyan Alayyahu.
Ingredients for Preparing Miyan Alayyahu
You will need the following ingredients to prepare Miyan Alayyahu (Spinach Soup):
2 bunches of fresh spinach (alayyahu)
Fresh onions, pepper, tomatoes (all grinded)
Vegetable oil or palm oil
Seasoning cubes (in desired quantity)
Salt to taste
Boiled meat and/or stockfish or dried fish.
Little water
Procedure for Making Miyan Alayyahu
STEP 1: Wash the spinach with water and small salt in a bowl properly.
STEP 2: Chop the spinach in the desired size and set it aside. Then;
STEP 3: Over medium heat, put your pot, add the vegetable oil or palm oil, and some sliced onion. Allow to fry for 3 minutes
STEP 4: Add the grinded onion, pepper, and tomatoes and mix. Allow to fry for 5 minutes.
STEP 5: Add a little water and allow to boil for 5 minutes.
STEP 6: Add the fish and/or fish and let it boil till it becomes soft. (Be careful not to add too much water, else, you will ruin the soup).
STEP 7: Add the chopped spinach and seasoning cubes, salt, and leave to simmer for 5 minutes.
STEP 8: Taste the soup to see if you need to add any seasoning. Finally;
STEP 9: Turn of the cooker and your soup is done and ready to be served.
NB: Only a little water is needed when cooking Miyan Alayyahu. This is because the spinach has its own water. Don’t worry when you see the quantity of spinach much more than the water in the pot. As you cook, the spinach releases its water content to the soup.
Swallows That Best Goes With It
Miyan Alayyahu (Spinach Soup) is normally taken with Tuwon Shinkafa or Eba.
How to Serve Miyan Alayyahu
Aside from Tuwon Shinkafa and Eba, it could also be served with, Tuwon Masara, Tuwon Alkama, Tuwon Dawa, Tuwon Alabo, and any other swallow of your choice.
Occasions to Best Serve Miyan Alayyahu
This local northern Nigerian cuisine could be taken as breakfast, lunch, and also dinner. More so, it is suitable for occasions like festive periods, wedding ceremonies, naming ceremonies, birthday parties, etc.
It may interest you to check how naming ceremony is conducted in Northern Nigeria.
How to Store Miyan Alayyahu
It is best stored in a refrigerator as it will last for several days. In the absence of a refrigerator nonetheless, it only lasts for a day or two at most, or you will have to be warming it mornings and evenings to last a little bit longer.
Nutritional Value of Miyan Alayyahu
Spinach (alayyahu) is one of the best sources of dietary potassium and magnesium, two very important electrolytes necessary for maintaining human health.
In addition, spinach has been famous for its ability to make one strong. It is dense in vitamins and minerals, and low in calories.
Furthermore, eating spinach is important in maintaining healthy skin, hair, and strong bones, as well as helping with lowering the risk for heart disease and helps in digestion. More so, it is beneficial in improving blood glucose control in diabetic patients.
Conclusion
Again, don’t forget that you only need a small amount of water, usually less than the quantity you need in preparing soups like Miyan Taushe, Miyan Karkashi, Miyan Wake, Miyan Kuka, and the likes. Now that you know how to prepare Miyan Alayyahu, you can decide on when to try it.
If you find this article helpful, please leave a comment in the comments section below.
You are always welcome to Northpad Nigeria for more local Northern Nigerian recipes.
by Fatima Sani | Nov 20, 2021 | Local Delicacies
Miyan Kuka also known as Baobab Soup, is a northern Nigerian soup, usually consumed by the Hausas. Other indigenes do consume it too but not as much as the Hausas do. It is made from the leaves of Baobab trees (Adansonia digitata). It is plucked fresh and then dried. When dry, it is then pounded until it is in powdered form. More so, a sieve is used to sieve out the unnecessary particles. Don’t worry; you need not go through all that stress as we have it available in our marketplaces and at affordable prices.
Furthermore, I can arguably say that this is the most consumed soup in northern Nigeria and it is mostly consumed by the Hausas. This is because according to research, every 7 out of 10 Hausa households in this part of the country consume Miyan Kuka every day and at any time of the day.
This most consumed northern Nigerian cuisine is easy to prepare and tastes delicious when it’s properly made. This article seeks to teach you how to prepare Miyan Kuka. Let’s get into it.
Ingredients Needed for the Preparation of Miyan Kuka
7 tablespoons of Kuka powder.
½ cup of palm oil.
Boiled meat and/or fish (quantity and size to taste) and its broth.
Grinded or pounded locust beans (daddawa).
Grinded onion and pepper. Tomato is optional.
Spices like maggi and salt (to taste).
2 cups of water.
Procedure for Preparing Miyan Kuka
STEP 1: Put a clean pot on low heat and pour in your palm oil.
STEP 2: Slice a little onion and put it into the pot. Then;
STEP 3: Allow to fry for 3 to 5 minutes under low heat until it turns brown.
STEP 4: Add in the grinded pepper, onions, and tomato (optional). Cook for 10 minutes.
STEP 5: Add in the grinded locust beans, the boiled meat and/or fish and its broth, and cups of water. Allow to cook for 15 minutes.
STEP 6: Add in your spices and stir well with a wooden spoon, allow to cook for 5 minutes.
STEP 7: Add the Kuka powder, spreading it little by little as you stir with a whisk (locally called maburgi) to ensure you get the desired mixture and avoid lumps. Then;
STEP 8: Reduce the heat and allow it to simmer for 5 minutes. Ta-da! Your delicious Miyan Kuka is ready to be served.
Swallow That Goes Best With It
Traditionally, Miyan Kuka is mostly dished with Tuwon Masara. In addition, it can also go with Tuwon Shinkafa, Tuwon Alkama, Tuwon Semo, and Tuwon Dawa.
How to Serve Miyan Kuka
Serve Miyan Kuka with a swallow of your choice side by side; that’s how I prefer it. Well, some people prefer it in different dishes, but if you want to feel like an actual Hausa person, eat it from the same plate – the traditional way. Remember to serve hot; the taste is better.
Occasion to Serve
This kind of delicacy isn’t meant for any occasion specifically. It can be consumed as breakfast (dumame, my favourite), or for lunch and dinner. Do not… I repeat, do not serve Miyan Kuka on occasions like weddings. Your wedding will be tagged as the worst ever! It is basically for consumption at home.
How to Store
Its way of storage isn’t different from other local delicacies like Miyan Kubewa, Miyan Karkashi, and the likes. It should be stored in a refrigerator to avoid spoilage. Also, with constant electric power, it can last for a month in the refrigerator. However, in its absence, it only lasts for 3 days. For me, I like to make mine in small quantities to avoid wastage.
Nutritional Value of Miyan Kuka
Miyan Kuka is very rich in Vitamin C together with other essential nutrients like alpha and beta-carotene. This reduces the possibility of cancer development and poor bladder health. It is also of great importance to humans nutritionally as it is rich in medical elements or properties that help in treating common illnesses. More so, it is a great ailment for the treatment of antipyretics, common cold, and diaphoretic.
It becomes more nutritional when you consider the vegetables, spices, fish or meat, etc. in it.
Conclusion
Now that you have learned how to prepare Miyan Kuka, tell me when you will try this at home? Prepare it and make your Hausaman proud.
If you find this article helpful, please leave a comment in the comments section below. Thanks.
You are always welcome to Northpad Nigeria for more local Northern Nigerian delicacies.
by Fatima Sani | Oct 15, 2021 | Local Delicacies
Tuwon Masara specifically, is the most consumed of all the types of Tuwos that we have. On the other hand, Tuwon Dawa is the least consumed after Tuwon Alkama of all the classes of Tuwo that we have.
In this article, you will take the lead in showing you how to prepare Tuwon Masara (ya ake Tuwon Masara) without much stress. Let dive into it! First,
Ingredients for Making Tuwon Masara
Ingredients need to prepare this recipe are grinded maize (maize flour) and 3 litres of water.
Procedure for Making Tuwon Masara
STEP 1: Grind the maize to flour and sieve it well. Ensure fine texture.
STEP 2: In a clean bowl of cold water, pour the maize flour into it. Stir it well until in a watery state. (This is known as the talge).
STEP 3: Get a clean pot containing 3 litres of water over medium heat. Allow it to boil.
STEP 4: Pour the mixture in step 2 into the boiling water and stir properly until thick like pap.
STEP 5: Allow boiling for 5 minutes. Then;
STEP 6: Add the maize flour into the pot little by little as you stir. Continue to stir until desired thickness is achieved.
STEP 7: Reduce the heat of your cooker and allow it to steam for 5 minutes.
STEP 8: Mold your Tuwon Masara into balls and put in a warmer.
Soup that Goes with Tuwon Masara Best
The common soup that is usually taken with it traditionally is Miyan Kuka (Baobab Soup). In addition, it could also be taken with Miyan Kubewa (Okro soup) – fresh or dried Okro, Miyan Taushe, Miyan Karkashi, Miyan Wake.
How to Serve It
It is best served hot.
Occasions to Serve Tuwon Masara Best
It is best consumed as lunch and dinner. Sometimes, the surplus can be used as breakfast (as dumame). Dumame is the Hausa name for double-fire.
But it’s not advisable to serve during festive periods like Eids. It is also not advisable to serve on wedding ceremonies, naming ceremonies, birthdays, etc.
How to Store Tuwon Masara
By warming it mornings and evenings, it could last for 2 days. However, if kept in a refrigerator, it could last for more days, although, its tastes could be affected. So, preferably, make just enough for consumption and probably for not more than 2 days.
Nutritional Value of Tuwon Masara
As humans, we need the energy to take care of our daily life struggles. As such, we need this most consumed northern Nigerian delicacy as it contains a great amount of carbohydrates.
However, it is not advisable for diabetic patients as it contains a high amount of starch. So diabetics should keep off, please.
Conclusion
As you have seen, Tuwon Masara is very easy to prepare. It could even be prepared by an amateur cook – like children learning to cook. In addition to its importance, it tastes nice.
Moreover, it is the sweetest of all the Tuwos when eaten for breakfast as double-fire (dumame). Personally, I prefer to take it in the morning as dumame than eat it fresh. Now tell me, when do you intend to make this for yourself or your family?
If you find this article helpful, please leave a comment in the comments section below. Thank you.
You are always welcome to northpad for more local northern Nigerian delicacies.
by Fatima Sani | Oct 12, 2021 | Local Delicacies
Tuwon Shinkafa is a northern Nigerian recipe that is prepared with the soft rice variety. You could also use the other varieties of rice to prepare it, but they won’t give you the best experience. Personally, this is my favourite of all the classes of tuwos that we have. Do you want to know how to prepare Tuwon Shinkafa? Stay with me.
This type of delicacy is consumed by almost every tribe in the north and so, it is not specifically related to the Hausa people. More so, it is very delicious as it goes with almost every Nigerian soup that you know.
Now that you know what Tuwon Shinkafa is, let’s go straight into how this Northern Nigerian cuisine is been prepared. Kindly allow me to be your guide. Not to worry, it isn’t difficult to prepare.
Ingredients for Preparing Tuwon Shinkafa
You will need the following ingredients to make Tuwon Shinkafa, depending on the quantity you intend to make:
3 cups of short-grain rice or local rice
2 litres of water (more or less)
Procedure for Making of Tuwon Shinkafa
STEP 1: Get a clean pot and put it on fire.
STEP 2: Add the desired quantity of water to it and allow it to boil. You could add a little more than the quantity you need just in case the need arises. Keep the excess water separately in a bowl before the next step.
STEP 3: Wash the short grain of rice and pour it inside the boiling water. Boil until it becomes very soft and sticky (if the rice isn’t done before the water dries up, you can add a little hot water to it, NOT cold water)
STEP 4: Use a wooding spoon to mash the soft rice thoroughly to form a soft dough. Then;
STEP 5: Wash your hand and mold the Tuwon Shinkafa into balls and put it inside a warmer.
STEP 6: Serve hot and enjoy your Tuwon Shinkafa.
How to Serve Tuwon Shinkafa
It is dished normally with Miyan Taushe, Miyan Alayyahu (Spinach Soup), and Egusi soup. Serving it with Egusi soup is my favourite. In addition, you could also serve it with other northern Nigerian soups such as Miyan Kuka, Miyan Wake, Miyan Kubewa (Okro soup), etc.
Occasions to Serve Best
This delicacy is best consumed on special occasions as festivals or eids or any get-together. In addition, it could also be consumed any day, any time – breakfast (as leftover “dumame”), lunch, dinner – just anytime is fine. It is best when served hot.
How to Store Tuwon Shinkafa
This delicacy can be stored for many days provided it is in the refrigerator and constantly powered with electricity. However, inadequate cooling could result to its spoilage.
Nutritional Value of Tuwon Shinkafa
Does Tuwon Shinkafa has rich nutritional value? Yes. Because of the rice, it contains carbohydrates needed to give us the energy to cope with the daily struggles of life.
Conclusion
If you follow the above procedures strictly, getting a perfectly and deliciously made Tuwon Shinkafa will be right in front of you for consumption. Now that you know how to prepare Tuwon Shinkafa, it’s high time you tried it.
If you find this article helpful, please leave a comment in the comments section below. Thank you.
You are always welcome to northpad for more local northern Nigerian delicacies.
by Fatima Sani | Oct 10, 2021 | Local Delicacies
Tuwon Alkama is one of the most favoured of the current trending foods in Nigeria. It is specifically a delicacy prescribed by doctors for diabetic patients. It is consumed mostly by the Hausa people of northern Nigerian. Furthermore, it is also easy to make and tastes delicious. Have you been wondering how prepare this trending food in Nigeria is been prepared? Stay with me as this article seeks to guide you on the steps to prepare your sumptuous Tuwon Alkama.
Equipment Needed
Pot
Turning stick
Ingredients for Making Tuwon Alkama
The ingredients needed to make this delicacy are just 2 cups of wheat flour and 3 litres of water.
Procedure for Making Tuwon Alkama
STEP 1: Wash and dry wheat in the sun and grind to a fine flour and sieve it.
STEP 2: Get a pot of water of 3 litres on fire and allow it to boil. Then;
STEP 3: Add a little wheat flour to a cold bowl of water and stir to mix to a watery state (talge).
STEP 4: Add step 3 to the boiling water and stir until it becomes thick like pap. Then;
STEP 5: Allow to cook for 5 minutes. Then;
STEP 6: Add the wheat flour to the content in the pot little by little and stir well until it is smooth and reaches the desired thickness.
STEP 7: Reduce your cooker heat and allow to simmer for 10-15 minutes. Then;
STEP 8: Mold into balls and put in a warmer.
How to Serve Tuwon Alkama
Tuwon Alkama can best be served with soups such as Miyan Kubewa (Okro soup), Miyan Kuka (Baobab soup), Miyan Karkashi, Miyan Gyada, etc.
Occasions to Serve Best
Tuwon Alkama when served with any of the above-mentioned soups can be feasted as dumame (also known informally as double fire) in the morning, or freshly served as lunch and dinner too.
Just so you know, dumame is the food that is consumed as breakfast which is prepared from the remains of unconsumed food from the previous day that is still edible.
How to Store Tuwon Alkama
This delicacy can be stored for a day or 2 as long as it is being warmed morning and evening. So, I advise you make just the quantity you need at the moment. However, if you choose to store it in a refrigerator, it may be okay for a few more days but its taste will greatly be affected.
Nutritional Value of Tuwon Alkama
When served, this delicacy has rich nutritional value, depending on how you choose to serve it. The delicacy itself contains carbohydrates because of the wheat (alkama) in it; this provides you the energy needed for your day-to-day activities. In addition, a diabetic patient can enjoy it as it is one of the foods most recommended for diabetic patients by medical practitioners.
Conclusion
Now that you have learned how to prepare Tuwon Alkama (Wheat Swallow), when do you intend to have a taste of it by preparing it yourself?
If you find this article helpful, please leave a comment in the comments section below. Thank you.
You are always welcome to Northpad Nigeria for more local northern Nigerian delicacies.
