Tags
benefits of african walnuts, Cameroon pepper, claras corner, corn, fruits in season in July, groundnut oil, groundnuts, naija blog, Nigerian food blog, pear, ube
Hello people!
Hope we had a restful weekend, was an eventful one for me! My brother inlaw finally married his sweetheart so it’s been activities since last week Thursday, I have never seen a happier groom, he was really full of smiles, God bless their marriage in Jesus name! Amen 🙂 .
Today’s post focuses on some foods/fruits in season and why you should take advantage of them. I didn’t get to eat mangoes as I would have loved to this year, kept planning to visit Ketu fruit market but never got the chance. I’m making up for that with corn, ube/pear and groundnuts. I eat them in large amounts at least 2-3 times a week and decided to share.
Boiled groundnuts
First on my list is groundnuts. Growing up, I ate 2 milk tins of boiled groundnuts almost everyday. My mum gave me 50kobo when ever she had to return to work after dropping off at home after school (served as a pacifier), I would buy 2 tins of groundnuts 20kobo each then save 10kobo to add to the next days 50kobo and have a feast of 3 tins of groundnuts or I’d simply buy alewa (local Hausa sweet) with my remaining 10kobo. I’m suprised that after all these years I still love groundnuts, I thought I would have outgrown or gotten tired, instead I buy raw ones from bulk sellers and boil in small batches at home infact I’ve successfully initiated my husband.
Boiled groundnuts is believed to have less fat than the roasted ones and therefore healthier. Groundnuts are healthy generally and have very healthy fats, infact the oil gotten from it popularly call Mai Geda or groundnut oil has less cholesterol that regular vegetable oil. I don’t know why we suddenly decided the oil was fattening and now buy every other commercial oil except groundnut oil.
Eating peanuts is a great way to loose weight because it contains healthy fibre which slows down digestion and keeps you full longer hence reducing inbetween meals or unnecessary snacks.
Groundnuts are high in anti-oxidants.
It is also heart friendly and for those who react to peanuts are better off eating it boiled.
Fresh pear/ube
Next is pear also known as Ube in Ibo. Mostly dark skinned, it’s delicious and best enjoyed with roasted corn. Ube is high in fatty acids and is believed to contain certain essential minerals. I prefer it dry roasted instead of soaking in hot water.
We have about 2 large trees in my village and whenever we visit the during this season we use hot ashes to roast it by placing it beside firewood being used to cook, this gives it crisp skin and intense flavours.
Fresh corn/oka/agbado/masara
Corn is practically universal. In the north it’s called masara and is a major staple food. It’s dried and milled into flour for tuwon masara or pate. In the east, it’s also milled into nni oka, not sure if the western part of the country eats agbado in the same way but I know here in Lagos eko is it’s most popular form which is basically solidified pap also known as agidi in Ibo.
This is the season to eat it fresh though, roasted or boiled. Corn contains anti-oxidants that increase when it is boiled, take out time and have some today as it also contains beta-carotene which is skin friendly.
African walnuts
African walnuts also known as Ukpa in Ibo, Okwe in Edo and Asala in Yoruba is in season. The other day I bought about 20 pieces for 100naira. Last week on Facebook we had a discussion which revealed different sides of it I never knew.
One member said it helped her a lot when she was pregnant, cleansed her mouth and made her tummy feel good.
Another member said it fights insomnia and gives a good nights rest.
It’s believed to boost fertility.
Contains Omega 3 fatty acids and Manganese which is good for the bone.
Many many reasons why you should eat all these foods today.
Ose Nsukka/fresh Cameroon pepper
Also in abundance in the market is Ose Nsukka which unknown to many is our very own Cameroon in it’s fresh state. This pepper is also found in different parts of the world such as the Caribbeans and Maldives. Jamaicans call it ball of fire or Jamaican hot, we call it Cameroon pepper and is harvested in bulk in Gembu, a local government in Taraba state which shares border with Cameroon.
It heats up the body and is high in anti-oxidants. I know many of us can’t get past the heat on the tongue but if you can, peppers will do your body good.
Here are some recipes I used it in :
Do have a blessed week!
Azu 🙂 .
Information culled from Healthy living, National weekender.
clarascornerng.wordpress.com 
Interesting post )
http://zr4n4xz9.com my blog
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Thanks Chaleski!
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I missed this one when you posted it but still remembered to buy corn, ube and boiled groundnuts when I was in Lagos last week. I love these food items, this post definitely reminds of my childhood when we used to boil big pots of corn, then roast yummy ube on the stove, and sometimes boil groundnuts at home too. And of course we would always buy boiled groundnuts on the road – like you, I can still remember the days of 20 kobo groundnuts (Chai!) And of course the yellow Cameroon pepper is a staple in our family. I remember the sight of the many, heavily laden ube trees in Utuh – so much delicious ube. I’ve never been able to eat those walnuts but Mummy loved them and used to buy them too, especially during road trips. I miss being in Lagos and having easy access to fresh, delicious foodstuffs. They are always overpriced here (due to the cost of transporting them across the river) and (apart from corn which is locally grown) not too fresh.
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Awww…the mentioning of that big pot of corn certainly brought back memories! Fresh and soft, thinking about it now I think it was sweet corn honestly, lol! So sorry you can’t get fresh foods as much as you would love to but glad you were able to enjoy some when you were in Lagos…as for those Ube trees, one needs ti visit the village and just sit underneath the tree with a freshly made fire for roasting them, Lol!
Thanks for stopping by 🙂 .
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