Recipes
Benefits of Adding Nutritional Yeast to Meals
For many years, I hated eating broccoli. I felt it was bland, had no taste but I would eat it because I knew it had nutritional value. One day a few years ago, a very […]
Articles by Florence Akpotaire
Recipes
How to Make Potato Porridge
Porridges or Pottages are dishes that once I think of them, I am immediately reminded of my childhood. It was always a delight to eat porridges as a child. It meant the rainy season was […]
Recipes
How to Make Ogbono Soup
When it comes to soups that “draw”, my go to soups are okra, ewedu, and ogbono. Ogbono soup is one of the most popular soups in Nigeria. It originates from the Igbo speaking part of […]
Recipes
Sugarcane: A Sweet Guide
I have always loved sugarcane. In my teens, I would get a stick, remove the outer layer, and a “battle” would begin with my teeth to get the sugarcane juice. Now, looking back, I am […]
Recipes
How to Make Nigerian Meat Pie
I have had many pastries that resemble Jamaican beef patties, empanadas, pastelillos, or meat pies. My favorite of these crescent-shaped pastries remains the Nigerian Meat Pie! Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy patties and empanadas […]
Recipes
African Periwinkle: A Taste of West African Tradition
Anyone who lives in a country different from where they grew up has that one food, snack, or drink, that they associate with the country or region they grew up, that they no longer have […]
Recipes
Garden Egg: A Unique African Delicacy
When I think of garden egg, the first thing that comes to my mind is the sound that it makes when you bite into it. If you have ever had this fruit, then you will […]
Recipes
Everything You Need to Know About Agbalumo (African Star Apple)
When I lived in Nigeria, you could always tell when agbalumo was in season—it was all anyone talked about! Everyone was eager to find the ones with the sweet, not sour, taste. Choosing between sweet […]
Recipes
Tiger Nuts: The Superfood You Didn’t Know You Needed
Whenever I think of tiger nuts, the first thing that comes to mind is the irresistible taste of a chilled glass of Kunu Aya. Kunu Aya is a traditional Nigerian drink. It is a creamy, […]
Recipes
Cooking with Bitter Leaf: A Complete Guide
When I think of vegetables that pack a bitter taste, my mind immediately goes to kale and bitter leaf. Bitter leaf, sometimes spelt bitterleaf, is very popular on the African continent. In Nigeria, it’s known […]
Recipes
Cooking with Waterleaf: A Simple Guide to This Vegetable
Does your recipe call for a handful of waterleaf, leaving you wondering what that even means? Don’t worry! Here’s everything you need to know about cooking with this vegetable, plus some great substitutes you can […]
Recipes
Everything You Need to Know About Boniato Sweet Potatoes
When I first moved to the U.S., it wasn’t always easy to locate the yams I grew up eating. Don’t get me wrong, many stores sold items labelled “yams”, “ñame,” and more as traditional yams […]
Recipes
Cilantro: Everything You Need to Know About This Herb
Cilantro is a herb commonly used in cuisines like Mexican, Indian, Thai, and Middle Eastern. Both the leaves and stems are edible, and it’s often used as a garnish or a key ingredient in sauces […]
Recipes
Everything You Need to Know About Yams: A Quick Guide
Yams are native to Africa and Asia. They are widely consumed in African, Caribbean, Asian, and Latin American cuisines and are known for their firm texture. They are distinct from sweet potatoes, although many grocery […]
Recipes
Ugu (Fluted Pumpkin Leaves): A Quick Guide
Ugu, sometimes spelled as ugwu, is a highly nutritious leafy vegetable. It is a staple in soups, stews, and porridges and is valued for its nutritional richness. What is Ugu? Ugu, also known as fluted […]
Recipes
Ewedu: A Quick Guide
Ewedu is a green, leafy vegetable commonly used in West African, Middle Eastern, and North African cuisines. Known for its slimy texture when cooked, ewedu is a staple in Nigerian households and is valued for […]