How to Cook Efo Riro | A Traditional Yoruba Delicacy

How to cook Efo Riro can come in handy if you are from the Yoruba tribe in Nigeria.

Assuming you have a Yoruba friend who visits you once in a very long time, what meal will you make for him/her that will make the person so excited?

There are numerous types of Yoruba dishes that you can make for your friend, that will make her feel at home including Amala, Efo Riro, Ewa oloyin (Beans porridge), etc., and many other foods.

Today I will show you how to cook Efo Riro, which will make your Yoruba friends excited and and will ask for more food.

How to Cook Efo Riro

Efo Riro is a traditional dish that originates from the Yoruba ethnic group in Nigeria.

It is a delicious and flavorful stew made with green leafy vegetables cooked in a nutrient-rich sauce made up of tomatoes, onions, peppers, palm oil, and iru (locust beans).

Iru is a fermented traditional condiment that gives the stew/sauce a deep flavor.

Based on the cook’s preference assorted meats like beef, chicken, or fish can be used, as well as offal like tripe, cow skin, and other proteins of your choice for more flavor and texture.

As the name implies Efo Riro translates to stirred vegetables which reflects the cooking method of wilting the leafy green vegetables in the tomato sauce until they become tender.

This dish is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants from the leafy green vegetables, so this makes it a very nutritious meal.

Efo Riro is usually served as a main dish with a starchy side such as rice, pounded yam, fufu, eba, or semo. It can be enjoyed as a comforting everyday meal or served on occasions and gatherings.

Ingredients for Efo Riro

1. Spinach (Sliced)

2. Assorted Meat, Tripe and Cow skin

3. Ground Red Bell and Scotch bonnet Peppers

4. Sliced Onions

5. Ground Crayfish

6. Iru (Locust beans)

7. Palm oil

8. Smoked fish

9. Stockfish

10. Salt and Seasoning Cubes

How to Prepare Efo Riro

Before you start cooking make sure the utensils and equipment you will be using are properly washed and clean, because for everything we eat hygiene is very important.

Here is the step-by-step guide on how to cook Efo Riro:

Step 1

Put the cooking pot on medium heat pour in some palm oil and allow it to heat for some time so as not to bleach.

Add onions and stir fry until golden brown, and then add the blended /grounded peppers and stir fry until the sauce is thickened for about 14-15 minutes.  Keep stirring continuously to prevent it from burning from the bottom of the pot.

Step 2

Into the frying pot add the crayfish, all the proteins (assorted meat, tripe, cow skin, and smoked fish), locust beans (iru), seasoning cube, and salt to taste.

Continue stirring the stock or water is added to thin out the sauce. Then cover the pot and allow it to simmer for some time.

Note: the water shouldn’t be too much as you are not cooking pepper soup but sauce.

Step 3

After a few minutes, open the pot; add the sliced spinach and mix very well. Leave the pot open to cook for like 3-5minutes. Taste again to adjust the seasoning if it’s not enough.

After tasting it, if the seasonings are okay, then your delicious Efo Riro is ready for consumption. You can eat it with any starchy food of your choice. Enjoy with family and friends.

Other Easy Recipes to Try:

• How to Prepare Afang Soup
• How to Make Pounded Yam with Mortar
• How to Prepare Atama Soup with Waterleaf
• How to Prepare Ghanaian Jollof Rice (The Perfect Recipe)