Ayamase Stew (Ofada)

Name: Ayamase Stew (Ofada)
Cuisine: Nigerian
Ingredients: 500 grams Assorted Meats; 4 pieces Ponmo (Cow Skin); 4 pieces Boiled Egg; 1 cup palm oil; 3 wraps of Iru; Beef Stock; 20 pieces Green scotch bonnet pepper; 2 large Green bell pepper; 2 large Onion bulbs; 2 Seasoning cubes; 1 spoon Ground crayfish (Optional); to taste Salt

Olajumoke Oyediran @cook_9604347

Who doesn't love Ayamase Stew?!(rolling my eyes....lol). Seriously though; this stew is what makes me eat rice cos I'm not a fan of rice unlike most of my naija brethren.
I cook this stew almost everytime and I'll love to share my recipe with you. I'll endeavour to make it as easy as possible.
Bon Appétit!

Olajumoke Oyediran @cook_9604347

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Ingredients

500 gramsAssorted Meats
4 piecesPonmo (Cow Skin)
4 piecesBoiled Egg
1 cuppalm oil
3wraps of Iru
Beef Stock
20 piecesGreen scotch bonnet pepper
2large Green bell pepper
2large Onion bulbs
2Seasoning cubes
1 spoonGround crayfish (Optional)
to tasteSalt

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Steps

1

Roughly blend the scotch bonnet pepper, green bell pepper and 1 onion and boil it till it achieves a thick consistency.
2

Bleach the palmoil in a covered pot for about 10 minutes. To prevent smoke inhalation, keep the pot covered while bleaching is going on. Once it hits the 10-minute mark, turn off the cooker and let the oil cool down. You would notice at this point that the oil has changed from red to dark brown. This simply means it's been properly bleached and you're ready for the next step.
3

Place the pot of oil back on the heat and add the remaining onion which must have been finely diced by now. Let the onions fry till it becomes soft and then add the Iru to the oil. At this stage, your neighbours probably feel that you're about to make efo-riro because of the wonderful aroma that would have taken over your kitchen.
4

Allow the Iru and onion fry together for about 2 minutes and then add your boiled assorted meats and diced ponmo to the oil, stir and allow to fry. At first, it would look like the meats have soaked up all the oil. However, as you fry the meat, the oil gradually floats back to the surface.
5

Once your meats have been properly fried, add in the boiled pepper and allow the stew fry till the oil floats to the surface of the stew in bubbles. Add your beef stock and let the stew fry further. Note that because your stock has seasoning in it, you might not have to add more seasoning to the stew. what this means is that you must taste the stew for seasoning after the stock has been added before you add fresh seasoning to the stew.
6

If you would be adding the ground crayfish to your stew, this should be added sparsely and carefully so as not to overwhelm or overseason the stew. It is very easy for this addition to ruin all your efforts so far. However, if you can be careful about it, you would agree with me that it was totally worth it.
7

Stir in the ground crayfish well and allow the stew to fry. Reduce the heat to a simmer till you notice that the oil is back on the surface of the stew.
8

Add in your boiled eggs and taste for seasoning and salt.
9

Voila! your Ayamase stew is ready to be enjoyed thoroughly with the locally grown Ofada rice. Adding fried plantain to this is like the icing on the cake. Enjoy!