Cocoanut plantain porridge

You must be wondering why it’s called coconut porridge right. The reason is, just like the coconut rice the coconut plantain porridge is been prepared with coconut milk, squeezed out of the blended coconut.

Plantain porridge is a Nigerian delicacy rich in iron and vegetable stew made with matured fingers of plantain. Plantains are seethed until tender in a flavorful meat stock along with assorted vegetables and sometimes fish, beans or meat.

There is more than one recipe for this nutritious dish. Versions of plantain porridge vary widely from region to region and household to household, just like I have discovered this wonderful recipe.

Ingredients

Green plantain (your desired quantity)

Matured coconut

Onion bulb

Blended fresh pepper

Grounded crayfish or dried shrimp

Red palm oil or vegetable oil

Meat stock

Spinach, ugu (pumpkin) leaf, scent leaf or any other vegetable of your choice — 1 pound or as desired.

Seasoning cubes and salt

Meat, fish, kanda (if you so wish to garnish your porridge)

2/3 fingers of ripe plantain

Procedures

First of all, ensure that your coconut milk is ready; after removing the coconut from it shell, slice into tiny pieces and blend. If you do not have a blender, you can cut into sizable pieces and grate it. After this is done, put the blended/grated coconut into a bowl and add warm water to it and wash out the milk.

Now put the coconut milk on fire, when it starts boiling, add your already chopped plantain and add a little salt. Cover the pot and leave it to boil for some time. Add your sliced onion, blended pepper, crayfish/shrimps and seasoning cubes. Allow to boil for a while then add your meat stock.

It is now time to add a little oil. You can use palm oil or vegetable oil but vegetable oil is best for this recipe.

You could grate 2/3 fingers of ripe plantain, depending on the quantity of the porridge. The ripe plantain adds taste and flavor to the porridge. Stir and taste to know if your porridge needs any adjustments. If any, do the needful and allow it to boil for a while. Lastly, pour in your already sliced leaf and stir.