The Ebira people are an ethnic group from Kogi in the central part of Nigeria. Similar to most ethnic groups in Nigeria, the Ebira people also have peculiar ways that they prepare their meals which is only distinct to them and forms their identity.
The Ebira people bring to the world, Ọve. This food is typically what we know as moi moi but for the colorful group, they make this moi moi out of water yam (Evina) rather than the typical beans that many Nigerians are used to.
To make this sumptuous meal, here is a simple recipe that takes 20 minutes to prepare.
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Ingredients
- ⅓ tuber of water yam
- 1 large Onion bulb chopped up
- 1 tbsp Ground Crayfish
- Banana leaves for wrapping
- 4 seasoning cube
- Salt to taste
- 2 tbs of vegetable oil
- fresh fish
- 2 tbsp of grounded pepper
Method
- chop your water yam and blend
- Add in the blended water yam, chopped onion, grounded crayfish and seasoning cubes
- Add vegetable oil
- Then add the fresh fish after 3 minutes
- Salt
- Add the grounded pepper
- Then vigorously stir for ten minutes.
- When done, wrap in Banana leaves and allow to steam for 45min.
Another variant of moi moi eaten by some Eastern part of Nigeria is called Okpa Ogede and this is made out of ripe plantain. This is one way to utilise a soggy plantain lying around in the kitchen. Here are the items to make this sweet tasting plantain moi moi.
Ingredients
- 3 medium ripe plantain
- 200g unripe plantain flour
- 1 large Onion bulb chopped up
- 1 tbsp Ground Crayfish
- Banana leaves for wrapping
- 3 seasoning cube
- Salt to taste
- 1 tbsp of vegetable oil or palm oil
- Fish
- 2 tbsp of grounded pepper
Method
In a bowl add the plantain flour with a mix of warm water and stir into a paste.
Prepare the ripe plantain, blend with onions, pepper, crayfish and then add to the plantain flour mix.
In the mix add your oil, fish,seasoning cubes, salt to taste and mix properly for 5 minutes.
Wrap mix in banana leaves.
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