Nutrition
Kaaweku
Kaaweku
Kwaaweku is a staple food for royals in Ada. The name ‘Kaaweku’ is derived from two syllables – Kaawe which means crab in the Ada language and ‘Ku’ which is taken from ‘banku’ because of its preparation which is similar to that of banku.
In other languages, this food made from roasted corn flour and palm nut soup has different names with the most common being ‘Apapransa’ as it is called by the Akans. In the Ewe language, it is called, Dzemkpl3, and in Ga, it is called ‘Akplijii’.
Ingredients
-1kilogram of palm nut extract
-2 large onions
-4 large peppers
– 3 large tomatoes
-Two tablespoonfuls of grinded ginger
-Two tablespoonfuls of garlic
– Half cup of roasted corn flour
– Fish/meat
-Momone
-Two tablespoonfuls of powdered shrimps
-Smoked salmon
-3 large crabs
Three tablespoonfuls of salt
Preparation
-Prepare the meat or fish to be used
-Season with your choice of seasonings, add blended onions, garlic, ginger if preferred
-Add salt to taste
-Allow fish/meat to steam for about 5-10 minutes
-Blend tomatoes and pepper
-Add to the steamed meat or fish
-Dilute palm nut extract with warm water and put on fire to boil.
– Dilute and melt the palm extract in warm water.
– Strain the palm nut extract to meat.
-Add crab after 5 minutes
-Allow soup to boil/ cook for 15- 25minutes (Normally ready when the palm oil separates to the top. Also, taste to see if the fresh taste of the palm is completely gone).
When Palm nut soup is ready, proceed to Kaaweku preparation
-Scoop about eight ladles into a separate saucepan
-Add about 9-10 tablespoonful of the cornmeal gradually and a spoonful at a time, stirring the mixture at the same time and continuously till desired pasty texture as achieved and all lumps are completely dissolved.
-Add a scoop of soup and allow to steam for a couple of minutes.
– Serve into your bowl, garnishing with the crab on top, and enjoy. Soure: Ghanafoods.com
Nutrition
Meat Pie
Meat pie
Meat Pie is a West African pastry that is stuffed with meat. It can serve as an appetizer at restaurants, parties, etc.
Ingredients
Crust
2 cups of flour
1 cup of butter
1 tablespoonful of salt
1/2 cup of water
2 eggs for coating
Meat Pie filling
1 pound of meat (You can substitute it with ground beef, chicken breast or tuna)
1large onion
1 tablespoonful of Adobo seasoning or seasoned salt
1.5 tablespoonful of olive oil
Instructions
Crust
Combine the crust ingredients:
flour, butter, salt and water in a large bowl
Mix and knead it until a dough forms
Set aside in a freezer for 10 minutes
Filling
Pour oil in a frying pan and put it on medium heat
Add the meat and seasoning and let it cook for 10 minutes
Add onions to meat and let it cook for another five minutes
After the filling is done, roll the dough with a rolling pin.
Cut a piece of the dough into a square or circle, you can choose to make it large or small.
Add some meat to each pie and fold in half and seal it. Use a fork to close the edges so the meat does not fall out.
7.Coat pies with egg wash so you get that golden brown look.
Nutrition
Akotonshi (Stuffed crab)
Akotonshi
Akotonshi is a delicious stuffed crab dish that is associated with feasting in Ghana.
The dish is sprinkled with breadcrumbs and placed under a broiler. When served, akotonshi is usually garnished with chopped parsley.
Ingredients
5 large whole crabs or cooked crabbed meat
2 large fresh ginger
3 tablespoonfuls of cooking oil
2 large onion minced
1 tablespoonful of ginger ground
2 large tomatoes finely chopped
1 tablespoonful of tomato paste
1 large green bell peppers finely chopped
1 tablespoonful of ground nut meg
1 tablespoonful of cloves ground
1 tablespoonful of dried thyme leaves
1/2 cup of dried shrimp
1 cup of plain bread crumbs
2 tablespoonfuls of salt
Preparation
-When cooking crabs, clean them and bring a large pot of water to a boil.
-Add in the ginger, cloves and the crab, cook for 15 minutes. Remove crabs and meat, keep shells for plating.
-If using just crab meat mix crab meat with ¼ cup water that has been boiled with the ginger piece and cloves for 15 minutes. Drain water, flake the meat and set aside.
-In a heavy pot, heat oil to medium temperature and add other ingredients in the following sequence, stirring for a minute or so between each: onions, ground ginger, tomatoes, tomato paste, green pepper, cumin, nutmeg, thyme, grains of paradise, paprika, mashed peppers, and dried shrimp.
-Reduce heat and simmer for 4-5 minutes, stirring constantly, until vegetables are cooked.
-Add crab meat and stir another couple of minutes to heat it through. Then spoon the mixture into clean crab shells or ramekins (small individual baking dishes).
-Sprinkle breadcrumbs on top of each crab and toast under an oven broiler, being careful not to let the crumbs scorch. —Source: Pulse.gh
