BESIDES the use of beauty products, good nutrition and hygiene are important in keeping the skin in good condition. Miyan wake served with tuwon shinkafa or amala is one of the foods that contain all the essential nutrients for maintaining a healthy skin. It is specially designed for people that want a healthy and good-looking skin. This dish originated from the northern part of Nigeria (Hausa). It is a unique dish because of its method of preparation, nutritive content and its therapeutic/ medicinal value. Miyan wake constitutes a perfect sample of protein of high biological value from animal and plant source. It is also rich in iron, folate, niacin and pantothenic acid, which are two vitamins that are very important for a healthy skin. Beans the main ingredient of this dish is a very good source of protein, iron, vegetable fibre, niacin and pantothenic acids (two vitamins that protect and nourish the skin). It is cholesterol free and does not contain saturated fat.

Meat used in the preparation of this dish is a good source of protein, iron and vitamin B12. Meat consumption is useful in treating serous infection, burns, extensive trauma, debilitating illness and major surgery. It is good to take meat in moderate quantity because excess meat consumption can cause heart disease, arteriosclerosis (narrowing or blocking of the artery wall as a result of fat and cholesterol deposit), gout, constipation and cancer.

Miyan wake served with tuwon shinkafa or amala has preventive and healing properties. Consumption of this dish helps in quick recovery from illness, prevents skin disorders, replaces worn out tissues and also builds a strong immune system against diseases and infections.

Therapeutic properties of

Treats / prevents skin disorders

Beans the main ingredient of this dish help to protect the skin and the mucosa because of their high content of niacin and pantothenic acids.

Prevent/ treat anemia:

This therapeutic property is as a result of soup richness in iron (from meat and beans) iron is one of mineral nutrients that are essential in the treatment of anaemia. This dish is therefore highly beneficial in cases of anaemia and the malnourished.

Recommendation

Miyan wake served with tuwon shinkafa or amala is recommended for those that want healthy skin, the malnourished, and anaemic. It is also good for those suffering from eczema, itching skin, dry skin and general dermatitis.

Ingredient Quantities

Meat 8 pieces

Cow kin 6 pieces

Onion 1 small bulb

Dehulled beans 11/2 cups

Pepper 1/2 (half) teaspoon

Palm oil 2 cooking spoons

Dawadawa 1 cake

Maggi cube 2

Salt To taste

Water 21/2 litres

Method of preparation

Boil the de-hulled beans in 2 1/2 litres of water till soft.

Mash it thoroughly.

Add the palm oil, meat, cow skin, ground dawadawa and pepper into the mashed beans and cook for 10 minutes.

Add the chopped onion, grounded or fresh pepper and maggi cube.

Add 3 cups of water to the soup.

Stir and cook for 5 minutes.

Add salt to taste.

Reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes.

Remove from fire and serve with amala or tuwon shinkafa.

Tuwon shinkafa (rice flour)

This is ground rice flour. Tuwon shinkafa is a good source of selenium, vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin) vitamin B3 (niacin), iron, magnesium, phosphorus manganese and dietary fiber. Tuwon shinkafa is a great source of complex carbohydrates, which give energy to the body.

Ingredients

Grounded rice flour

Water

Method of preparation

Put pot on fire with half-filled water to boil.

Collect some quantities of the rice flour and mix it slightly water in small container with cold water.

Add into boiling water and allow to cook well.

Add the main flour little by little using stirring stick (wooden turner) to blend it.

Using stirring again, turn it again and again until you achieve the required consistency and bring down.

Serve with miyan wake.

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