How to Prepare Nigerian Plantain Porridge|Quick Recipe

How to prepare Nigerian plantain porridge should not be a problem after you have come across this page. Plantain porridge is one of most Nigerian homes’ simplest and most enjoyable meals.

The fun part of plantain porridge is that different varieties complement the recipes used in preparing them.

Nigerian plantain porridge is a very nutritious and delicious meal rich in carbohydrates from the plantain, with added vitamins and minerals from the peppers, tomatoes, and optional vegetables or protein sources. Palm oil itself provides vitamins A and E.

How to Prepare Nigerian plantain Porridge

Nigerian plantain porridge is known as Ukang Ukom or Ubobok Ukom. It is a delicious traditional Nigerian dish made from plantain(Musa x paradisiaca), a major group of banana varieties commonly eaten in the West African part of the world.

These plantains are edible starchy fruits that are staple food sources in many tropical areas although they are classified as banana varieties they are not eaten raw(except its ripe)

The cooking process involves cooking plantain in a flavorful sauce, usually made with oil, peppers, onions, and other ingredients of choice.

Nigerian porridge can also be called plantain soup because it is mainly cooked with plantain and ingredients that result in a dish containing some soupy liquid.

Out of choice for more nutrients, I do add some green vegetables like curry leaves, pumpkin leaves, or scent leaves for flavor as well.

The consistency of this plantain porridge can be very chunky (with whole pieces of plantain ) or sometimes mashed (with a smooth, porridge-like texture). So you know, both consistencies are delicious and enjoyed differently.

What is Plantain Porridge Made of?

As I stated earlier plantain porridge has different varieties as well as recipes, but some key ingredients are always needed whenever how to prepare plantain porridge comes to mind.

Here are the key ingredients used in making plantain porridge;

Unripe Plantain: This is the major ingredient; the plantain is peeled and cut into chunks and then cooked until it is tender.

Palm oil: This particular ingredient gives the meal its rich, reddish color and deep flavor.

Tomato-pepper Sauce: A blend of tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, and spicy scotch bonnet or habanero peppers forms the base of the sauce. This can be optional depending on the recipe you are using.

Seasonings: Ground crayfish, bouillon cubes (like Maggi, Knorr, or any seasoning cube of your choice), and salt are often added to enhance flavor.

Other Optional Additions: Aside from the above-mentioned ingredient, there are other optional ingredients like smoked or dried fish, kpomo(cowskin), periwinkle, and leafy greens like spinach or Ugu pumpkin leaves) or scent leaf and meat can be added for extra protein and flavor.

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How to Make Nigerian plantain Porridge

There are so many ways of preparing Nigerian plantain porridge and they all have their unique and delicious taste.

Here, I am going to show the simplest recipe that you can use for 20-30 minutes to cook this delicious meal.

Before you start cooking please ensure you are using clean utensils and equipment as well as cooking in a clean and hygienic kitchen.

Then we move to the steps of how to prepare Nigerian plantain porridge:

Step 1

Peel the plantain you are using cut it into sizeable chunks and wash it in water until the water is clean and not cloudy.

How to prepare Nigerian plantain porridge

Wash the cowskin, season it, and cook on medium heat for 10 minutes(depending on how hard the meat is).

Put the washed plantain into a clean pot, add some water not too much (but enough to cook the plantain and make it soft), and heat it for 10 minutes.

Step 2

In a blender or grinder, grind some habanero peppers, bell peppers (if using), and crayfish separately and set aside and slice some onions.

Note: For this recipe, I am not making use of tomatoes. If you are using it, you blend it alongside the peppers and fry.

Step 3

Check on the plantain; add the pepper mix and crayfish to the plantain alongside some seasoning cubes and salt. Add palm oil, sliced onions, dry fish, and kpomo(cowskin). Cover the pot and allow it to cook for 7-10 minutes on medium to high heat.

After 10 minutes, mash some plantains(that’s if the soup is not thickened already) to form a thickener to the porridge, stir, and add any veggies of your choice.

Hurray! Your Nigerian plantain porridge is ready for you to enjoy, you can pair it with any protein of your choice.

That was quick, when using this particular recipe, how to prepare Nigerian plantain porridge will no longer be an issue because it doesn’t take longer to enjoy your meal.

Although there are a thousand and one ways for you to enjoy your plantain porridge, just try it this way and thank me later.

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