Ekuru
Ekuru is a very common native cuisine of the Yoruba people in Nigeria. It is usually prepared with peeled beans.[1]
It is similar to moin-moin as both are made from peeled black-eyed peas or, occasionally, cowpeas. However, unlike moi-moi which is mixed with pepper and other ingredients before steaming, Ekuru is wrapped up in leaves or tin cans (similar to moi-moi) and steamed.[2]
It is often prepared in the same way as ordinary moin moin but does not include any additional ingredients. It has a white color and tastes like stew. It goes well with solid pap (eko).[3]
It is served with fried pepper stew and then mashed up with pepper stew. Some people enjoy the meal with fermented maize pudding (Ogi or Eko) it can also be served alongside (Eba) Cassava Pudding or Okro Soup.
The meal is native to people from South-Western Nigeria, predominantly from Osun State.[2]
In culture
Ekuru features in several Yoruba myths, where it is cooked with glue in an attempt to stop a cabal of evil witches from moving.[4]
Because of the meal's dry nature, the expression "He chokes me like ekuru" can be used to describe a tedious visitor.[5]
References
- Balogh, Esther (1992). "Eating Out in Nigeria - From Food Vendors to the Sheriton". In Walker, Harlan (ed.). Oxford Symposium on Food and Cookery 1991: Public Eating : Proceedings. London: Oxford Symposium. p. 32. ISBN 978-0-907325-47-5.
- Ajala, Aderemi Suleiman (2009). Rural Health Provisioning: Socio-cultural Factors Influencing Maternal and Child Health Care in Osun State, Nigeria. Frankfurt am Main, Germany: Peter Lang. p. 42. ISBN 978-3-631-59023-2.
- Online, Tribune (2019-08-25). "Ekuru with peppered sauce". Tribune Online. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
- Beier, Ulli (1980). "Obatala and the Witches". Yoruba Myths. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. pp. 15–17. ISBN 978-0-521-22995-1.
- Crowther, Samuel (1852). A Vocabulary of the Yoruba Language, Together with Introd. Remarks by O. E. Vidal. London: Seeleys. p. 83.