Are you interested in cooking Onunu food and are trying to figure out how to go about it? This article has the perfect recipe for this sumptuous delicacy!
Welcome to the Kalabari tribe, where vibrant and unique culture awaits your discovery. Their cultural wealth precedes the pre-colonial era and contributes significantly to Nigeria’s diverse cultural landscape. The Kalabari kingdom is a composition of the Ijaw ethnic group premised along the banks of the Niger Delta in Rivers State, Nigeria. Wouldn’t it be fascinating to learn how to cook Onunu, the mouth-watering food of the Kalabari people?
The Kalabari Kingdom comprises three local governments, namely Asari-Toru, Akuku-Toru, Degema and Abonema, the traditional capital of Rivers State. This article will take you through a culinary treat by providing tips on how to cook Onunu.
Before we delve into how to cook Onunu, let’s take a trip to the history of the Kalabari Kingdom. Famous for their trade ties with the West during the 15th century, the Kalabari people enjoyed ample exposure to economic prosperity. They thrived on communal cohesion to foster their art and culture. Notable for their fishing skills, they leveraged the proximity to waterways to harness the abundance of the coastal aquatic resources within their terrain. Their culture is deeply intertwined with their food which reflects the Niger Delta region’s abundant natural resources.
The love for seafood among the Kalabari people of Rivers State is deeply rooted in their cultural heritage and geographical location. Blessed with an abundance of rivers, mangroves, creeks and estuaries, the Niger Delta region of Nigeria plays a pivotal role in shaping the livelihood of the diverse communities which share its richness. Fish, crabs, periwinkles, shrimps, and other marine creatures are found in substantial quantities in the region, providing a rich source of protein, vitamins,and minerals.
One of the staple foods in Kalabari cuisine is seafood—yes, you heard suitable seafood! Onunu is one of the Kalabari people’s favourite foods, and in this article, you’ll be given a guide on how to cook It.
Onunu is a traditional food that the Kalabari people of Rivers State, Nigeria, enjoy. This delicacy is made from plantains and yam, pounded into a smooth, fluffy consistency, and served with a rich and flavorful sauce from locally sourced ingredients such as fresh fish or seafood. Onunu holds significant cultural and culinary importance amongst the Kalabari people and is often served during special occasions, communal gatherings, and celebrations. Ready to learn how to cook Onunu? Just grab your apron, and let’s make magic with two staple foods of the Niger Delta people in Nigeria. Firstly, you need to get a notepad and write down the ingredients. Do not worry; these ingredients can be sourced from any local market. So, here’s how to cook Onunu.
Ingredients required for cooking Onunu
- 4-5 sized ripe plantains
- One tuber of yam
- Red Oil
- 2 or 3 sized Tilapia/Mackerel fish
- One or 2-sized smoked fish
- One sized Onions
- 6-7 sized Fresh Tomatoes (blended)
- 4-5 Sized bell peppers (blended)
- ¼ kg of Prawns
- Basil leaves (sliced)
- ¼ kg of Shrimps
- Salt
- Blended Crayfish
- Seasoning
Method
Here’s how to cook Onunu with a simple routine.
Step 1
- Peel the yam and plantains. Wash properly to get rid of sand. Then, cut into chunks and cook until tender.
- I scooped the cooked yams and plantains into a mortar and mashed them with a pestle. I added some drops of red oil to the mixture to give the paste a slightly reddish tint. Alternatively, in the absence of a mortar and pestle, you can use an electrical blender to get a fluffy consistency by adding the yams and plantains, although in smaller sizes, into the blender for easy grinding and a few drops of red oil.
- The pounded yam and plantain mixture is then shaped into small balls. This is typically done by hand and requires some skills, but do not worry; you can achieve the plantains/yam balls by simply rolling the paste between the palms of your hands.
- After the plantain/yam balls have been made, set aside and cover adequately in a bowl.
Step 2
Now that the plantain/yam ball has been made, it is time to prepare the sauce to accompany it.
- Wash the fish and seafood thoroughly. Scale and gut them before cutting them into smaller pieces.
- Wash the smoked fish as well. Set aside in a clean bowl with a cover.
- Put the fresh fish and other seafood in a pot and add the blended pepper, salt, and seasoning.
- Allow to simmer for 15 minutes.
- Scoop the fish and the stock into a clean bowl with a cover.
- Place the pot on the fire. Allow to dry a little by heating it.
- Add 2-3 cooking spoons of red oil into the heated pot.
- Heat the oil for 1 minute.
- Add the diced onions. Stir and fry for 40 seconds.
- Add the blended fresh peppers. Stir for 1 minute.
- Add the blended fresh tomatoes. Stir and fry for 2 minutes.
- Add the fresh fish, smoked fish, shrimp, and prawns.
- Add the blended crayfish. Stir and fry in the red oil for 2 minutes. You must stir cautiously so the fish are not shredded into tiny bits before being eaten.
- Add a cup of water. Then add salt to taste and season the cubes as well.
- Then, add the sliced basil leaves for that extra flavour. Trust me, your eyes will gleam with delight just as much as your stomach will crave a taste of this meal!
- Stir to combine the various ingredients. Cook for 7 minutes, and your sauce is ready.
- Your sauce must have a thickened consistency before achieving a delicious meal!
Once the sauce is cooked to perfection, it can be poured over the yam/ plantain ball to create a delicious and satisfying meal that combines the creamy texture of the yam and plantain mixture with the savoury and aromatic flavours of the fish sauce. Are you still wondering how to cook Onunu? Well, now you have the recipes!
Alternatively, the sauce can be served on another plate while the plantain/yam ball is served on another. The plantain/yam ball is eaten by scooping a morsel and rubbing it between your thumb to form a smaller ball. Then, the morsel is dipped in the fish sauce to enjoy a tasty swallow of the freshly made Onunu!